Wike’s lawmakers loses at Appeal Court
Lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike on Friday suffered a huge setback as the court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital refused to grant the sacked lawmakers stay of the execution of the order barring them from parading as lawmakers after their sacked.
Meanwhile, federal lawmakers under the auspices of G60 have said that the court ruling will help maintain peace and stability and stop the endless attempt by sacked lawmakers to undermine democracy.
The Court of Appeal, Port-Harcourt at a virtual hearing today via Zoom gave its Ruling on two Motions filed by Martins Amaewhule and the other defected lawmakers challenging the order of injunction granted by the Rivers State High Court restraining them from acting as lawmakers.
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The Court in Ruling on the first Motion, granted the Appellants’ prayers for leave to compile and transmit the Records of Appeal, deeming the Appellants’ Brief of Argument as filed, accelerated hearing and a stay of further proceedings at the High Court.
The Court of Appeal, however, refused to grant the prayer for stay of execution and setting aside the interim order of the Lower Court as there is a presumption of correctness of an order of a Court. It held that granting same would be tantamount to determining the appeal at this stage. The Court went on to order that the present status quo should be maintained pending the hearing of the Appeal.
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Ruling on the 2nd Motion which was brought to set aside the interlocutory injunction of the Lower Court, the Court of Appeal also refuse the prayer, and reiterated that the ‘present’ status quo should be maintained.
The Respondents are to filed their Briefs within 72 hours of being served. The case has been adjourned to 20/6/24 for Hearing of the Appeal.