A Port Harcourt High Court has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit brought before it by Mr. Livingstone Wechie, the Director of Media/Publicity of the Integrity Group demanding the court to restrain the Speaker Rivers State House of Assembly, RSHA, the Clerk of the RSHA and the RSHA not to swear-in Mrs. Victoria Wobo Nyeche as a member of RSHA.
Delivering the verdict in Suit No. PHC/893/2016, the presiding judge, Adolphus Enebeli said that any attempt not to hear the suit it will deny Mr. Wechie access to justice, ignite social upheaval in the society and also stagnate the growth of constitutional democracy.
Mr. Wechie in his submission said that Mrs. Victoria Nyeche as a member elect of RSHA impersonated by using the letter-headed paper of the RSHA to write a petition against the confirmation of Chief Judge of Rivers State by the House. Mr. Wechie described her action as deceitful, misleading and tantamount to impersonation and fraud.
The judge had earlier commended the counsels of both parties for full cooperation and their erudite submissions. He noted that despite a protest against him and the Chief Judge to intimidate him, stating that, “With a clear conscience and on my honour and in keeping with my judicial oath of office, this court determined this matter strictly on merit and what I consider justice of the matter and did not cower or quake or yield to intimidation”.
