The Court of Appeal in Abuja has constituted a special three-member panel to handle the escalating political cases from Rivers State, with sittings scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 14. This move is aimed at resolving the legal tussles stemming from the rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The feud has led to a surge in legal cases, creating factions among political actors and resulting in conflicting judgments from courts of similar authority. This has drawn criticism from judiciary stakeholders and the public. To streamline the resolution of these disputes, Court of Appeal President Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem appointed a special panel to oversee all appeals related to the political crisis in Rivers.
Key Cases to be Heard:
- Governor Fubara and Rivers State House of Assembly vs. Others: Involving the alleged defection of 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike from the PDP to the APC.
- Rivers State Government vs. Rivers State House of Assembly: Adjourned to be heard by the new special panel.
- Accountant General of Rivers State vs. Rivers State House of Assembly: Adjourned to Thursday for hearing.
- Action Peoples Party vs. Independent National Electoral Commission and Others: Also adjourned to Thursday.
The special panel, headed by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, along with Justices Misitura Bokaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga, will tackle cases involving key political figures and factions within the state. The establishment of this panel aims to provide a clear and expedited resolution to the political disputes, marking a critical step toward restoring order amid Rivers State’s ongoing political upheaval.
