The National Vanguard for Rule of Law (NVRL) has saluted the Appeal Court’s refusal to reverse the removal of Martins Chike Amaewhule and 26 others as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Amaewhule and others had approached the apex court seeking to vacate the Interlocutory Injunction of a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which empowered Oko-Jumbo to keep on with the leadership of the state assembly.
Justice Charles Wali of the State High Court had also ordered Amaewhule and 24 others to stop parading as speaker and lawmakers in the legislative arm of the state.
In a ruling which was delivered virtually on Friday, the Appellate Court says giving a verdict reversing the decision of a Federal High Court which declared their seats vacant, will amount to pre-judging the appeal currently before it.
In a statement signed by Comrade Johnson Babatunde, the group said the ruling has resurrected hope in the judiciary.
“If the prayer to reverse the restraining order on the former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly was granted, they would have used that window to perpetrate more mischief against the government and people of Rivers State,” Johnson said.
“With justices like those of the Portharcourt Division of the Court of Appeal still in the temple of justice, it is our conviction that hope is not lost in the Nigerian judiciary.
“We equally call on all Nigerians to commend and support judges who give sound judgments to continue to deliver sound judgments to make Nigeria a better place.
“It is our believe that, our judges will deliver sound judgements in the other cases on the political crisis in Rivers State.
“The National Vanguard for Rule of Law(NVRL) equally uses this opportunity to urge Nigerian Judges to continue to deliver judgments that give Nigerians hope in the judiciary.
“Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done, as the court remains the last hope of the common man.”