The legal battle challenging the defection of 25 lawmakers in Rivers State from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new turn.
The case has been moved from Federal High Court 4, Port Harcourt, overseen by Justice Steven Dalyop Pam, to Court 2 under the jurisdiction of Justice E. O. Obele.
Confusion ensued among journalists and some lawyers covering the case when they arrived at the court on Friday morning, only to find out that the cases had been reassigned.
The realization came when prominent Senior Advocates of Nigeria involved in the case were not present in Court 4. Upon inquiry, it was revealed by the court clerk that the transfer occurred on Thursday.
The reassignment followed a petition from Hon. Martins Amaewhule, a defendant in the case, to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, requesting that the cases against him be transferred to another court.
The cases, initiated by the BOOT Party and others in suit number FHC/PHC/269/2024, as well as by a Civil Society Organization in the state, challenge the defection of 25 members of Rivers Assembly loyal to Nyesom Wike.
During the court session on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Steven Dalyop Pam, read Amaewhule’s petition aloud.
The petition sought to halt the hearing process and have the cases reassigned. Counsel for the plaintiff, Mr. Reuben Wanogho, argued that the petition was intended to disrupt the ongoing proceedings and urged the court to disregard it.
However, Ferdinand Orbih, counsel for the 1st to 25th defendants, stated he was unaware of the petition but requested that the court comply with the petition if it had been addressed to the Chief Judge.
Justice Pam noted that Amaewhule had not submitted a motion or counter affidavit and was not yet recognized in the case.
He also pointed out that Amaewhule had not copied the plaintiffs on his petition. Consequently, Justice Pam ruled to dismiss the petition and continue with the hearings for joinder.
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