A concerned group, known as Rivers Trust People Ambassadors has called for the arrest of former, Rivers State House of Assembly, (RSHA) members led by Martins Amaewhule for Contempt of Court order.
A Port Harcourt High Court had ruled and upheld that Rt. Hon Edison Ehie is the Speaker of the RSHA and his members should go ahead with the legislative function of the RSHA, barring Martins Chike Amaewhule and his members to desist from the legislative function of the house.
“However, these former members of RSHA have chosen to disregard the court order, continuing to convene at unauthorized venues. In light of this blatant violation, we are urging law enforcement agencies, including the Commissioner of Police (CP), to arrest and prosecute the individuals for contempt of court.
“The political landscape in Rivers State has witnessed numerous party defections over the years, with elected officials changing parties in pursuit of personal ambitions or ideological differences. Martins Amaewhule and his faction of former RSHA members are the latest politicians to undertake such a move. However, the consequences of their actions go beyond political maneuvering, as the PDP have deemed their actions constitutionally unfounded, and asked for their seats to be discharged vacant by the court.
“The constitutionality of their continued occupancy of these seats is now in question. By switching parties and joining the APC, they have disregarded the principles laid out in the Nigerian Constitution, effectively losing their eligibility to occupy their elected positions as pronounced by the Speaker of RSHA, Rt. Hon Edison Ehie.
“Despite the court’s definitive ruling, Martins Amaewhule and his faction of former RSHA members have chosen to defy the order. They have resorted to convening unconstitutional gatherings, effectively demonstrating a willful intent to disregard the court’s decision. This action can rightly be considered contempt of court, an offense that carries significant consequences.
“Given the gravity of the situation, we are demanding that the law enforcement agencies, particularly the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu to intervene swiftly and arrest these individuals who continue to sit in defiance of the court order. Failure to act would set a dangerous precedent, suggesting that court rulings can be openly disregarded without consequence. Upholding the rule of law is crucial for the stability and progress of any democratic society.
“Despite this ruling, they have chosen to ignore it and continue meeting at unofficial venues. The call for the arrest and prosecution of these individuals for contempt of court order is a necessary step towards upholding the integrity of the judiciary and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in Rivers State”, they further stated.
