13th December, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/Rivers
The political crises Rivers State took a new turn on Wednesday with the rollout of bulldozers for the demolition of the House of Assembly by the State Government.
Reports indicated that over 10 bulldozers and other heavy-duty equipment were rolled out for the demolition of the House of Assembly complex on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area as early as 5 a.m. on Wednesday.
The demolition of the complex began at about 7:30 a.m. and was still ongoing as at the time of writing this report.
Sources in the state claimed that the demolition of the Assembly Complex was being undertaken by the state government.
This demolition followed a State High Court order presided over Justice Danagogo directing the Martin Amaewhule led 27 lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike to stop using the Assembly Complex yesterday pending the hearing and determination of a suit brought before it by the Ehie-led faction of the state legislature.
The court also restrained the Amaewhule led lawmakers from disrupting factional Speaker Edison Ehie from performing his legislative duties pending the determination of the suit.
It also issued an order restraining the Martins Amaewhule-led faction and his deputy, Dumle Maol, from gaining access to the Assembly complex along Moscow Road.
It also warned against the use of thugs and Police Officers to forcefully gain access into the premises of Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.
The court “restrained the further use of assembly complex Moscow Road in Port Harcourt ,which was burnt by fire that engulfed the assembly complex on the 29th October 2023 contrary to the order of the Executive Governor to ensure that the activities and meetings of the house and not destructed during the innovation of the building pending the determination of the motion or notice already filed”.
The Court also said if the case is found or adjudged to be frivolous, the Plaintiffs/ Claimants are to pay the defendants the sum of 50 million naira.
The court ordered that the injunction be served through a substituted mean or published in at least two national Dailies or published in the area where the defendants were last seen.