{"id":8508,"date":"2013-08-17T12:39:42","date_gmt":"2013-08-17T12:39:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/court-stops-probe-of-rivers-assembly-crisis\/"},"modified":"2013-08-17T12:39:42","modified_gmt":"2013-08-17T12:39:42","slug":"court-stops-probe-of-rivers-assembly-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/court-stops-probe-of-rivers-assembly-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Court stops probe of Rivers assembly crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A high court sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday gave an order restraining the commission of inquiry into the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis from investigating the case.<\/p>\n

The presiding judge of the State High Court, Justice Iyayi Laminkara, who issued the order on Friday, also restrained the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Worgu Boms, from receiving or implementing any recommendation from the commission.<\/p>\n

The lawmaker representing Port Harcourt Constituency III in the Assembly, Mr. Victor Ihunwo, had approach the court, asking it to declare the commission of inquiry set up by the state governor as illegal and unconstitutional.<\/p>\n

Ihunwo had argued that since Amaechi was an interested party in the crisis affecting the Assembly, it was not proper for him (governor) to set up the commission of inquiry to investigate the fracas in the state legislature.<\/p>\n

Justice Laminkara said based on the facts before the court, the commission would not be fair in its investigation since some of its members were loyal to the governor.<\/p>\n

She upheld the argument of the counsel to the applicant that the state Peoples Democratic Party was divided along the lines of the party chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah and Governor Amaechi.<\/p>\n

She said, \u201cThe crisis that broke out in the House of Assembly complex was between two factions. The governor, being a key player in one of the factions, cannot be a judge in his own case.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the principle of natural justice, the governor lacks the capacity to constitute a panel to investigate the crisis involving him. Only a regular court is competent to inquire or try anyone on the allegation, which led to the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly.\u201d<\/p>\n

The judge had earlier struck out the preliminary objection filed by counsel to the commission for lack of merit, adding that if the commission was allowed, it would be against the principle of fair hearing.<\/p>\n

Justice Laminkara pointed out that the incident in the chambers of the House of Assembly involved criminal matters and added that only a competent court of law could try such case.<\/p>\n

Reacting to the court ruling, the lawmaker representing Ogu Bolo Constituency, Mr. Evans Bipi, expressed delight over the development.<\/p>\n

Also, lead counsel to Ihunwo, Mr. Dike Udenna, hailed the ruling of the court, saying, \u201cWe are happy that the court upheld the reliefs sought by the applicant.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the counsel to the commission, Mr. Olusola Dare, explained that the panel would study the court ruling before deciding its next line of action.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the PDP has lauded the ruling of the court, saying, \u201cWe are happy and wish to express our renewed confidence in the Nigerian judiciary to uphold justice in the face of intimidation and wanton display of power.\u201d<\/p>\n

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