Following the suspension of the 27 defected Rivers State House of Assembly members, Kingdom Okere, a lawyer, has stated that these members, including the former speaker, are currently not regarded as members under the law.
The legal luminary, in an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time, advised the disgruntled members to pursue legal procedures in challenging the suspension and questioned Wike’s ability to strike down Section 109, Subsection 1g of the 1999 Constitution.
Okere highlighted that the suspension is based on the application of constitutional principles, notably Section 109, Subsection 1g.
He stated that the action was concluded, and a court order from the Rivers State High Court prohibits the former members, including the former speaker, Hon. Martins Chike Amaewhule, from parading themselves or forcing their way into the Rivers State House of Assembly premises.
Kingdom Okere said, “These people that have come to file this application, as we are talking, are not members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in the eyes of the law.
“The Rivers State House of Assembly has invoked the constitutional provisions of Section 109, Subsection 1g. They have invoked it; it’s a completed act, and there’s an order of the Rivers State High Court that has restrained these former members.
“The former speaker, what’s his name again? Hon. Martin and his former colleagues from parading themselves and from forcefully gaining entrance into the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
“The only thing they have to do if they believe in the rule of law is to go to court. Appeal the ruling, appeal the procedure that suspended you, and let us know whether Wike will also go overnight and expunge Section 109, Subsection 1g, of the 1999 Constitution.”
OperaNews
