As reported by Channels TV, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has recently put off making a ruling about the appeal that Martin Amaewhule and twenty-four other assembly members from Rivers State filed against Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo and five others.
After all parties adopted their submissions, the matter was deferred. It challenges a high court order that declared their seats empty.
Amaewhule and his colleagues asked the court to halt the high court's judgement execution and halt further proceedings in the case during Thursday's virtual proceedings.
Additionally, they aimed to invalidate any decisions taken by Jumbo during his tenure by claiming that the original court order did not have the authority to do so.
This prompted the legal team representing Amaewhule to ask the court to reject the appeal due to inadequately prepared documents of appeal.
Judgement will be announced to all parties involved at a later date by the three-judge panel presided over by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada.
On June 14, the court had already issued an interim order telling the parties to keep quiet and not do anything that could lead to a confrontation until the verdict was announced.
The conflict arose from a May 10, 2024, ruling by the Rivers State High Court that barred Martin Amaewhule from claiming the title of Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In addition to these 24 assembly members, the decision forbade them from performing official legislative tasks or even entering the parliamentary premises.
In light of this result, Amaewhule and his colleagues decided to appeal the high court's decision to the Court of Appeal.
Their main point was that the decision was unfair, so they wanted it resolved quickly.
In addition, while the Court of Appeal deliberated, it forbade the State High Court and any other court from becoming involved.