…Court Declares Rt. Hon. Bipi Speaker
…Ex-speaker, Dan Amachree On Sick Bed
…Amaechi May be Impeached Next Week
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the reopening of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Delivering a judgment on Wednesday the Presiding Judge, Justice A. Mohammed declared that the purported taking over of the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the National Assembly is unconstitutional, therefore is null and void.
According to the Judge, the Rivers Assembly has never shown in its activities that it can not handle it’s affairs as regards to lawmaking. Prior to the High Court’s verdict, the activities of the Rivers Assembly has been taken over by the National Assembly following a fracas that broke out on the floor of the House on July 9, 2013. During the fracas, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, a lawmaker representing Emohua Constituency inflicted life threatening injury on Hon. M. O. Chinda, a legislator representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II. What actual led to the crisis in the Assembly was the impeachment of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon Otelemaba Dan Amahchree and subsequent the emergence of Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi from Ogu/Bolo as a new speaker.
As the news of the Wednesday’s Federal High Court verdict filtered into the Rivers State, some pro-Amaechi’s lawmakers met in Government House to deliberate on the next line of action to be taken, whether to comply with the court’s judgment or not.
Sources close to the Government House informed this weekly that they were jittery for what it calls the fear of the unknown. The source further told our political correspondent that the ex-speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree of Asalga Constituency I was absent during the meeting.
According to an information reaching our political desk, Rt. Hon. Dan Amachree left the state for unknown destination shortly after Justice Mohammed delivered his landmark judgment.
Meanwhile according to the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Leyii Kwanee from Khana Constituency II, Rt. Hon. Dan Amachree is currently undergoing a medical treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
Speaking to newsmen, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi said that the Federal High Court 7 sitting in Abuja has declared him the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
According to Rt. Hon. Bipi, with the court’s verdict the House would soon resume sitting to enact good laws that will put smiles on the faces of the Rivers people.
Now the question arises with the reopening and the resumption of Rivers Assembly and the return of Rt. Hon. Bipi as speaker can Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi still continue as a Governor?
Many political commentators say it would be difficult for the Rivers Governor to continue to be in the Brick House.
Barely three weeks ago, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi decamped to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Shortly after the governor’s defection some council chairmen also followed the foot step of the Governor.
However, the information reaching our political desk had it that the first assignment Rt. Hon. Bipi might carry out is to call for the impeachment of the Governor.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State government says that it would appeal the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed. The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Simeritari who disclosed this while speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt. She expressed shock over the judgment, and called on the people of the state to be calm. ####
