The Rivers State government has dismissed media reports that the court has restored the Amaewhule-led Assembly. The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, Dagogo Iboroma, made the clarification on Wednesday, stressing that the State High Court did not declare or affirm Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Iboroma while addressing the press on Wednesday following the circulation of a certified true copy of the court judgment, urged media practitioners to seek accurate information and legal advice before interpreting court judgments, rather than relying on emotions or persuasions.
He said the court order clearly states the enforceable decisions of the court, which do not include declaring Amaewhule as the Speaker or affirming him and 26 others as members of the House of Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party.
He added, “Contrary to the false claims and misrepresentation in social, print and electronic media, the court did not make a declaration that Martin Amaewhule is the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, neither did it make a declaration that Martin Amaewhule and 26 others are members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party.
“If it were so, it would have been embodied in the court orders which have been circulated to you all and displayed by me here for the purpose of clarity.” Iboroma explained that the court orders specifically dismissed the suit for lack of jurisdiction, joined the Peoples Democratic Party as a defendant, and dismissed the claimants’ case for lacking merit.
The Commissioner reiterated that any findings not included in the court order are mere opinions and have no binding force.
