Fatshimetrie, a prominent news source, has reported that the impeached Rivers Governor, Celestine Omehia, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, have been affected by a recent legal decision. According to Fatshimetrie’s coverage, Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed three separate applications filed by this trio on the grounds that their motions to stay the execution of the order were incorrectly formulated and hence inadmissible.
On April 5, Justice Ekwo issued ex-parte orders that prohibit the three PDP dignitaries from attending any meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and/or the Bureau of Trustees (BoT) of the party. The judge also restrained them from participating in any deliberations or proceedings at these meetings pending the hearing and determination of the case on its merits. These restraining orders were issued in response to three substantive suits filed against the three PDP dignitaries by some party members in Rivers State.
The lawsuit against Uche Secondus and seven others, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/440/2024, was filed by Titus Jones. The second action against Omehia and five others, under the reference FHC/ABJ/CS/436/2024, was filed by Precious Wobisike, while the third, bearing the reference FHC/ABJ/CS/438/2024, against Opara and seven others, was brought by Chisa Amadi.
Secondus, Omehia, and Opara had sought to stay the execution of the orders pending the determination of their appeals challenging the ex-parte orders. Justice Ekwo, in three separate judgments delivered on Thursday, declared the applications inadmissible. According to him, under Rule 26(9)(1) of the Federal Supreme Court Civil Procedure Rules (FHCCPR) 2019, the proper procedure for Secondus, Omehia, and Opara would have been to ask the court to modify or annul the orders, not to request a stay.
Justice Ekwo emphasized the importance of following established legal procedures in legal matters and the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of the rules and laws governing the courts to avoid procedural pitfalls.
For more information, you can refer to the following links:
1. Secondus, Omehia, and Opara’s Plea Rejected by Court
2. Local Development Program in the DRC: Progress and Challenges
3. Jean Marie Kabengela Ilunga’s Plea for Publication of the Constitutional Court Judgment in the DRC