The Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an interim injunction maintaining the status quo amidst the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly’s move to extend the tenures of elected local government councils’ officials.
Newspot recalls that the Amaewhule-led Assembly amended the Local Government Law Number 5 of 2018, amidst the political crisis in the state.
The amended law allows the House of Assembly to extend the tenure of the elected chairmen and councillors where elections are not held before the expiration of their three-year tenure.
The suit was filed by Executive Chairmen of Opobo-Nkoro, Enyiada Cookey-Gam; Bonny, Anengi Claude-Wilcox, and five other elected council officials against the Assembly’s decision.
The claimants sought a declaration of the three-year tenure for local government chairmen and members, beginning from June 18, 2021.
They also requested an injunction against extending the tenure and a directive for the defendants to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for the interlocutory injunction.
The court, presided over by Justice G.N. Okonkwo ordered that the claimant enter into an undertaking of N5 million if the case is found frivolous.
Justice Okonkwo also directed all parties to maintain the status quo, pending the hearing.
The court thereafter fixed April 22, 2024, to hear the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
The court also ordered substituted service of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction to the defendants.
