Factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ehie Edison, has commenced contempt proceedings against the main Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, and his deputy, Dumle Maol.
Edison is praying the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt to jail Amaewhule and Maol for allegedly disobeying an order of the court that the two factions should maintain the status quo in the crisis rocking the Assembly.
Edison had announced his emergence as Speaker on October 30, 2023, following an explosion in the Assembly complex the previous day, believed to have been orchestrated to stop the move by Amaewhule and 23 other lawmakers to impeach Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
A form Form 48, notice of contempt, filed by the factional Speaker alleged that Amaewhule and Maol spurned an order made by Justice Phoebe Ayua on November 7 that parties should maintain status quo pending the determination of a suit filed by Edison.
In his main suit marked FHC/PH/CS/240/2023, Edison is praying the court to stop Amaewhule, and the other lawmakers from presiding over the activities of the legislative arm of the state.
He, however, alleged that contrary to the court order that parties should maintain the status quo, Amaewhule and others allegedly sat at the complex on Monday under alleged police coverage and deliberated on a number of issues.
Edison, who said he was elected by 26 of his colleagues as the new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, accused Amaewhule of invading the Rivers State House of Assembly and purportedly holding a sitting of the House in flagrant violation of the order of the court for parties to maintain status quo.
His Form 48 read: “To: 1. Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule (Former Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, House of Assembly Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State) 2. Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol (Former Deputy, Speaker State House of Assembly, Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State).
“Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
Meanwhile, Justice Ayua had earlier fixed November 27 to hear Edison’s main suit.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government, on Thursday, removed the Clerk of the State House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi, and his deputy, Calistus Ojirika.
A memo from the state Head of Service, Dr George Nweke, on Thursday said the Clerk had been redeployed to the state Scholarship Board; while the Deputy Clerk was posted to the Readers Project.
The memo was titled ‘Rivers State Governorate Effects New Postings in Rivers Civil Service.’
Although no reason was given for the removal, and one other official was affected, the development might not be unconnected with the political crisis in the state.
It directed the affected officers to complete handover procedures to the most senior officials in their respective departments, saying, that their service records were expected to be moved to the offices of their new postings.
The memo read: “The Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke vide Circular No. A238/VOL.XV(15)/81 dated 20th November 2023 has affected some postings in the state’s civil service.
“In a memo titled, ‘Senior Staff Posting’, Dr. Nwaeke listed those affected to include Mr. Emeka Amadi, Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly now deployed to the Scholarship Board.
“Mr I.K. Calistus Ojirika, Deputy Clerk and Head of the Legislative Department in the House of Assembly now posted to the Readers Project, while Mr. Georgewill Otto an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development is now moved to Rivers State Small Town and Rural Water Supply Agency.
“The memo stated that the posting takes immediate effect and further directed the affected officers to complete handover procedures to the most senior officers in their respective departments as their service records are expected to be moved to the offices of their new postings.”
