Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been asked to commit former speaker, House of Assembly, Martin Chike Amaewhule and his deputy, Dumle Maol, to prison over alleged refusal to obey an order of the court.
The new Speaker, Ehie Ogerenye Edison, filed Form 48, a notice of consequence of disobedience of court order against Amaewhule and his deputy.
The applicants are the House of Assembly and the Speaker. The alleged contemnors are Amaewhule, Maol, Inspector General of Police; Director, Department of State Security and state Commissioner of Police.
The applicants alleged that the respondents disobeyed the order of the court made on November 7, 2023, ordering parties not to take any step concerning the subject matter of the suit before the court.
Edison in the processes, accused the former speaker of invading the House of Assembly and purportedly holding a sitting of the house in flagrant violation of the order of the court for parties to maintain status.
The Form 48, titled, “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Order of Court” is dated November 22, 2023 and signed by Registrar, Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Judicial Division.
The alleged contemnors were warned that they would be liable to be committed to prison unless they obey the order of the court.
Justice Phoebe Ayuba of the Federal High Court upon the application of Edison and the House of Assembly, issued an order directing all parties to the assembly crisis to maintain the status and not to take any step concerning the subject matter of the suit until the determination of the motion on notice.
The case has been adjourned to November 17, 2023. The order reads: “That the prayers as stated on the motion paper are denied.
“That an order is made directing the plaintiffs/applicants to put the respondents on notice forthwith.
“That an order is, however, made, directing that all parties on record respect the court and should not take any step concerning the subject matter, since the matter is already before this court-sub judice.”
