The president of the Nigerian Society for Open Justice, Oloyede Kadiri, has warned against an alleged attempt to subvert the legal system in an effort to overturn a provisional ruling made by a High Court in the state of Rivers. Under the temporary injunction, Martin Amaewhule, the pro-Wike Speaker of the State House of Assembly, and twenty-four other legislators are not allowed to represent themselves as legislators.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
According to The Independent, Oloyede Kadiri said, “The Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly are in a desperate move to upturn the judgment.
“We have it on good authority of their efforts towards ensuring that they use the court through every means available to get reinstated.”
Oloyede Kadiri stated in a statement on Tuesday that there is a serious risk to democracy in Nigeria and Rivers State as a result of the purported attempt to overturn the High Court’s decision.
He said, “This group of former lawmakers, with the backing of some forces in Abuja, have been approaching the Appeal Court to upturn the ruling of the Rivers State High Court restraining the 25 defendants from “meeting or sitting at the auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters located at off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
“They have bragged about control of the judiciary by their patron in Abuja and that the ruling of the Rivers State High Court will be upturned.”
Oloyede Kadiri, however, issued a warning, stating that any attempt to subvert the Justices of the Appeal Court would be a coup against democracy.
He emphasized, “Those whose actions and inaction have contributed to the political impasse in Rivers State are enemies of democracy.”
“If this anomaly is allowed in Rivers State, it can happen in any state in the country. The implication would be the end of democracy or any semblance of democracy in Nigeria.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>