The crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly is far from over as the police, again, took over the complex on Tuesday.
This came as members loyal to both factions allegedly held separate sittings at different locations.
Four police patrol vans were sighted at the entrance of the assembly complex, while the movement of people and vehicles along the Moscow Road Axis of the assembly were restricted.
Also, an Armoured Personnel Carrier was seen pacing from one end to the other on the road where the complex is located, while scores of armed operatives mounted strategic locations.
The reason for the security beef-up could not be immediately ascertained, but it was gathered that some lawmakers sat on Tuesday.
Reports said that 25 lawmakers led by House Speaker Martin Amaewhule, sat early on Tuesday.
The lawmakers reportedly deliberated on two items concerning the suspension of the strike by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria.
They also called on the State Commissioner for Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate the explosion at the Assembly, which razed the hallowed Chamber and destroyed several property. Also, the other lawmakers led by factional Speaker Edison Ehie, passed a vote of confidence in Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Rising from a sitting on Tuesday, they commended the governor on his developmental strides and security initiatives to keep the State peaceful.
Ehie, through a statement by legislative aide Ken Uchendu, said it takes a man of vision to steer the ship of development for the benefit of the people of the State
The faction resolved to continuously give the governor the required support to accomplish his consolidation and continuity agenda to benefit the State.
The lawmaker also condemned the attack on Ehie’s residence on Sunday night as well as the burning of the House of Assembly.
The lawmakers appealed to the governor to commence the rehabilitation works as soon as possible.
“Furthermore, the house impressed on the need for the Inspector General of police, and other related security apparatus of the state to investigate these attacks and bring the culprits to book,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the two factions in the Rivers State House of Assembly to maintain status quo ante bellum and suspend further deliberations until the matter before it is dispensed with.
A factional Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon.Barr.Ehie Edison DSSRS, had in a suit No: FHC/PH/CS/240/2023, approached the Court presided over by Hon. Justice Phoebe Ayua, praying the court to stop Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and the other lawmakers from presiding over the activities of the legislative arm of the State government.
The Notice was filed together with the main suit by Ehie, as the new Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
The plaintiffs, in the suit are Rivers State House of Assembly, as first plaintiff, and Rt. Hon. (Barr) Ehie Ogerenye Edison (Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly) as second plaintiff.
The defendants are the factional Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martins Chike Amaewhule, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol (former Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly), the Inspector-General of Police, Director, Department of State Security Services and Commissioner of Police, Rivers State.
Ruling on the motion filed in the suit, Justice Ayua ordered that none of the parties on record should do anything about the matter as all the parties are expected to respect the court.
The order reads in part: “That an Order is made directing the Plaintiffs/applicants to put the Respondents on Notice forthwith.
“That an oder is however, made, directing that all parties on record respect the Court and should not take any step concerning the subject matter, since the matter is already before this Court – Sub judice – pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”
In the suit, the factional Speaker Ehie and the House of Assembly is seeking, among others, a declaration that the former speaker and his former deputy, having been removed and suspended from the House, are not entitled to participate, disturb, interfere or obstruct the performance of the legislative proceedings of the House and the legislative duties of the new speaker in accordance with the provisions of Sections 90 to 104 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
They also sought an order restraining the former two principal officers of the House from interfering or participating in the functions of the House of Assembly.
After entering the order, the court fixed for hearing the motion on notice on the November 27, 2023.