The Court of Appeal in Abuja is set to examine political issues from Rivers State, with sittings to commence on Thursday, November 14 after setting up a special three-member bench, Cyber Reporters report.
This move comes after mounting legal battles between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The feud has resulted in a rush of legal lawsuits from the state, causing splits among political players and resulting in contradicting decisions from courts with similar power. This issue has sparked condemnation from both judiciary stakeholders and the general public.
To expedite the resolution of these disputes, Court of Appeal President Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem formed a special panel to oversee all cases of Rivers’ political crisis.
The panel, led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi and comprising Justices Misitura Bokaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga, would consider cases involving significant political leaders and groups inside the state.
Among the appeals expected to be considered is one brought by Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as those involving both the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress over the purported defection of 27 Wike supporters from the PDP to the APC.
During proceedings on Monday, a panel of the court adjourned three appeals, including one filed by the Rivers State Government against the Rivers State House of Assembly and others, to be heard by the new special panel.
