The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has set aside the order that sacked 25 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly after they defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of Justices, on Thursday, held that the Rivers State High Court, which issued the order, lacked jurisdiction.
It therefore upheld the appeal by the 25 lawmakers, led by the embattled former Speaker, Hon. Martin Amaewhule.
They are said to be loyal to Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister.
Justice Charles Wali of the Rivers State High Court had on May 10, issued an interim injunction, restraining the 25 lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the Assembly, having decamped from the political party that sponsored their elections.
The court order followed a suit that was filed by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, the current Speaker of the Assembly.
Justice Wali also barred the pro-Wike lawmakers from accessing the Assembly complex or carrying out any legislative assignment in the name of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
But Amaewhule and his colleagues, who disagreed with the verdict, went on appeal, saying the state high court acted beyond its jurisdiction when it issued the restraining order against them.
In the appeal, marked: CA/PH/198/2024, the appellants urged the court to stay the execution of the high court judgement.
They had also asked the appellate court to invalidate all the legislative actions that have been taken by the Jumbo-led Rivers State House of Assembly.
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