- Rivers State Appeals Judgment, Says It Is An Abuse Of Judicial Process.
- PDP Rivers Hails Judgment Says It Is Victory Over Intimidation And Dictatorship.
A State High Court sitting in Rivers state today in its judgment which was presided over by Justice Adanma Iyayi-Laminaka ordered the River state government to reinstate the suspended chairman Timothy Nisirim the suspended chairman of Obio/Akpor Local government area and its councilors.
According to Justice Adanma Iyayi-Laminaka, in his judgment said the action of the government was flawed and unconstitutional.
However, the Rivers State government through its Commissioner for Information and Communication Ibim Semenitari said it will appeal for a stay of execution of the judgment adding the Judgment of the court is an abuse of judicial process.
The statement by the Rivers Government said; “As a responsible Government, which respects the rule of law, we have noted the ruling and in our usual manner would abide by the pronouncement.However, we are constrained to note that the trial judge acted in total disregard of the Court of Appeal, which at the moment is entertaining an appeal in respect of the matter.”
“We are aware that under the rules of court, where there is a subsisting ruling essentially from the court above, lower courts are as a rule expected to stay action pending the determination of the appeal.In this instance, we wish to state without equivocation that the trial judge erred in law when she failed to adhere to age-long principles upon which the rule of law draws inspiration and strength.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government has filed an appeal for a stay of execution of the judgment while the ongoing matter that is being heard by the court above is billed for Thursday, the 28th of November, 2013. The government appealed to the people of the state, particularly the people of Obio-Akpor to remain calm and law-abiding, adding “We wish to assure our people that we shall pursue the cause of justice through constitutional and judicial means until the people secure justice.”
Meanwhile the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP hailed the judgment as it said it is impressed by the ruling of the State High Court.
In its statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the State Chairman of the PDP, Jerry Needam described the nullification of the Caretaker Committee and the reinstatement of Hon Timothy Nsirim led exco as a victory over intimidation and dictatorship.
“The court ruling is simply a victory for democracy. It’s rekindled our hope in the Nigerian judiciary notwithstanding deliberate attempts to make it compromise. We also wish to congratulate the people of Obio/Akpor for this cheering news and enjoin them to put all past acts of provocation behind, embrace the return of justice and peace in their land and join hands together with Hon Timothy Nsirim to move the council forward.
“The PDP will continue to apply wisdom and use every legal mean possible to fight injustice and executive highhandedness to ensure there is equity in our land and to ensure both the high and the low are protected as of right. We believe this is the import of democracy without which democratic leadership makes no sense at all”, the Party declared.
