A leaked court order, reportedly penned by Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, is fueling heightened tensions in Rivers State. The document, responding to an application from lawmakers loyal to FTC Minister Nyesom Wike, is set for delivery on December 18, 2023.
The order is said to aim at safeguarding lawmakers as they embark on impeaching Governor Siminalayi Fubara, deepening the existing political feud between Wike and Fubara.
Last week, 27 lawmakers, formerly aligned with the ruling PDP, decamped to the APC, prompting swift retaliation from Governor Fubara’s camp, resulting in the declaration of the defectors’ seats as vacant.
Adding to the complexity, the State High Court in Port Harcourt issued a similar order, granting legislative autonomy to the four-member Rivers House of Assembly aligned with Fubara. This development unfolded as the state government, in the same week, ordered the demolition of the assembly complex, citing structural concerns.
The court order reads;
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