- Law Teacher faults decision, says: ” My worry is why the Supreme would direct a group whose legal status was yet to be determined, to resume sitting…”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria who led the pro-Wike lawmakers to victory at the Supreme Court on Friday, Dr. James Ogwu Onoja has described the decision of the apex court as a final solution to executive recklessness.
Dr. Onoja led Moses Ebute SAN and Paul Dauda, SAN.
See the video below.
But Sylvester Udemezue, a social critic and lecturer at the Nigerian Law School disagrees that the apex court’s verdict which nullified the recent local government elections in Rivers State and upheld the legitimacy of the 27-member Martin Amaewhule-led State Assembly is a boost to constitutionality.
“We all should be worried about the judgement of the Supreme Court given today. Those celebrating are celebrating prematurely because the discussion is not over (even the Supreme Court so attested when it says the legal status of the group of 27 is yet to be determined. My worry is why the Supreme would direct a group whose legal status was yet to be determined, to resume sitting. Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate for the apex Court to rule on their legal status (one way or the other) so as to settle a these WAHALA once and for all, and WITH FINALITY?
“Was the issue of DEFECTION not raised before my Lords of the apex Court? Was the issue not raised before my Lords, about whether the group of 27 had the LOCUS STANDI to represent the House of Assembly of Rivers State, and to institute the lawsuits? Why did the Supreme Court choose to ignore them but was quick to authorize the group of 27 (WHOSE LEGAL STATUS WAS YET TO BE DETERMINED, AS THE SUPREME COURT ITSELF ADMITTED) to resume sitting to do the work of the House of Assembly even when the attention of the Court had been drawn to their defection and the huge legal effects?
“With due respect, the judgement of the Supreme Court is one-sided, failed to deal with and SETTLE the real issues for determination in Rivers State (defection) since all other issues EMANATED FROM and accordingly DEPEND ON the question of defection.
“The Governor told the Court that the reason he’ was not relating with the group of 27 was because they had defection and thereby lost their seats, on 11 December 2023.. The group of 27 told the court that the Court should ignore Fubara and direct the Governor to recognize the group as representing the legislature of Rivers State. The Supreme Court after looking at the argument of the two sides, decided to ignore the FUNDAMENTAL issues raised by Fubara, and instead approved the position of the group of 27 directing that the position of the Governor should be left to determined by the courts. How balanced was such a decision?”
However, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has hailed the judgment while pointing out that the apex court’s decision has effectively ended the reign of impunity in Rivers State.
The former Rivers governor also took a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, accusing them of supporting lawlessness in the state.
According to Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has no choice but to fully comply with the Supreme Court’s verdict, as it represents the final legal authority on the matter.
The ruling marks a major development in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, reinforcing the authority of the Amaewhule-led Assembly while nullifying the controversial local government elections.
