The Rivers State House of Assembly has alleged the existence of clandestine attempts to procure court orders aimed at restraining the legislature from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Enemi George, said the assembly had received intelligence indicating that certain individuals were planning to obtain restraining orders from some high courts within the state, but outside the Port Harcourt judicial division.
According to the statement, those allegedly involved are said to be fully aware of the constitutional provisions governing legislative proceedings and the jurisdiction of courts in such matters.
The assembly cited Section 272(3) of the Constitution, noting that it vests jurisdiction in the Federal High Court to determine questions relating to whether the tenure of a member of a state House of Assembly, governor, or deputy governor has ceased or become vacant, subject to other constitutional provisions.
Lawmakers also referenced Section 188(10) of the Constitution, which provides that proceedings or determinations of a panel or a House of Assembly, or any matter related to such proceedings, shall not be entertained or questioned by any court.
The statement further pointed to recent judicial pronouncements, including a Court of Appeal decision that overturned a similar ex parte order issued by a Rivers State High Court in alleged violation of Section 272(3) of the Constitution.
“With the leave of the speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, I call on those concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from acts inimical to the Constitution and the rule of law,” George said.
He added that affected officeholders who had already been served notices of allegations of gross misconduct should respond to the allegations directly, rather than resorting to what he described as covert efforts to undermine the legislative process.
