Court Reserves Judgment On Appeals Over Rivers Crisis

The three-member panel of justices led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi announced that judgment in the appeals would be reserved.

The Special Court of Appeal Panel set up to adjudicate on the political cases in Rivers State, has reserved judgment in the consolidated appeals contesting the judgment of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The three-member panel of justices led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi announced that judgment in the appeals would be reserved after counsel to parties in the appeals adopted their briefs and final processes for and against the appeals.

In one of the appeals bordering on the Rivers local government election, Justice Lifu in the judgment, barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for the conduct of the state local government polls which has now been conducted.

In another suit, presided over by Justice Lifu, brought before the court by some members of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, said to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Justice Lifu ruled in an experte application, restraining the national leadership of the PDP from dissolving the newly elected executives of the party in Rivers State.

Meanwhile, a mild drama played out in court as two senior lawyers separately announced their appearance for the PDP, over the case that is seeking to sack the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who are loyal to Wike.

While J. Y Musa announced his appearance for the Umar Damagum-led executive, B. F. Folurunsho said he was duly assigned the case by the National Legal Adviser of the party whom he said has the authority to handle all legal matters involving the party.