The National Industrial Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has restrained
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, the state House of Assembly and
their agents from dissolving or, in any manner whatsoever, interfere
with the tenure of office of the 23 local government council chairmen in
Rivers State.A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, yesterday, adjourned till July 9,
for hearing in another suit by the 22 council chairmen against the
Rivers State Government. The case is before Justice B. Quadri. As early as 7a.m., supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and
All Progressives Congress, APC, had taken over the premises of the
Federal High Court on Station Road, Port Harcourt. To prevent breakdown
of law and order, policemen had to close one of the lanes to traffic.post by expdonaloaded.blogspot.com..The atmosphere was tense. The trial judge noted that among other things,
the issues before him bordered on jurisdiction of the court and abuse
of court processes and he urged parties to file their papers correctly.
He said that his attention had been drawn to moves by the plaintiffs to
secure an order from the National Industrial Court in Bayelsa State.
Meanwhile, trial judge of at the National Industrial Court, Justice J.
Agbadu-Fishim, made the order, Monday, following an ex-parte application
argued by counsel to the council chairmen.Governor Wike, Rivers State
Attorney General, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rivers State
Independent Electoral Commission, President Muhammadu Buhari,
Attorney-General of the Federation and Inspector General of Police are
defendants in the suit. Justice Agbadu-Fishim held:
“The governor of Rivers State, the Rivers State House of Assembly and
the Attorney-General of Rivers State and their agents are hereby
restrained from dissolving, suspending, sacking terminating or in any
manner, whatsoever, interfering with the tenure of office of the 23
council chairmen of Rivers State, pending the hearing and determination
of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
At the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt , Attorney General of the state
and counsel to Rivers State Government, Emma Aguma, accused the council
chairmen of abuse of court process for filing the same process before
the National Industrial Court in Bayelsa State. On his part counsel to
the plaintiffs, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, said his clients did not
abuse court process as alleged by the state Attorney General.
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