Impeachment: Court Can’t save you, Rivers assembly tells Fubara

The Rivers State House of Assembly has raised the alarm over what it described as a plot by some persons linked to the executive arm to procure a court order stopping it from performing its functions.

In a statement on Sunday, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Dr Enemi Alabo George, said the plot was to get the ex parte order from the state High Court operating outside Port Harcourt, the state capital.

He said such move was dead on arrival because it would amount to an attempt to subvert the 1999 Constitution.

He said all required is for the office holders who have already been duly served with the Notice of Allegations of Gross Misconduct to respond to them, item by item, rather than deploy subterranean moves to subvert the law or use proxies to malign the Rivers State House of Assembly in the media.

He said instead of running from pillar to post, the concerned office holders should do the needful by responding to the allegations.

George said: “The Rivers State House of Assembly has received information of plots by certain persons to utilize some Rivers State High Courts especially outside the Port Harcourt Judicial division to issue exparte orders to illegally stop the Rivers State House of Assembly from performing her constitutional duties.

“These persons are fully aware of the provisions of section 272(3) of the Constitution which states that ‘subject to the provisions of section 251 and other provisions of the constitution, the Federal High Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of a member of the House of Assembly of a state, Governor or Deputy Governor has ceased or become vacant’.

“Also, section 188(10) states that ‘no proceedings or determination of the panel or of the House of Assembly or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court’.

“These persons are also fully aware of judicial pronouncements on this matter especially recently at the Court of Appeal on a matter involving similar exparte order by a Rivers State High Court contrary to section 272(3) of the constitution. A word is enough for the wise”.

The Assembly called on persons behind the move to exercise restraints and refrain from actions initially to the constitution.

The lawmakers said: “Therefore, with the leave of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, I call on those concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from acts inimical to the Constitution and the rule of law.

“All that is required is for the office holders who have already been duly served with the Notice of Allegations of Gross Misconduct to respond to them item by item rather than deploy subterranean moves to subvert the law or use proxies to malign members and the Rivers State House of Assembly in the media.

“We remain committed to the Constitution and the rule of law and may God bless our dear Rivers State and Nigeria.”

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