A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has been asked to commit one of the leaders of the two in the Rivers House of Assembly crisis groups involved, Martin Amaewhule, and his deputy, Dumle Maol to prison over alleged refusal to obey an order of the court.

Mr Ehie Edison and Mr Amaewhule lead the two groups involved in the crisis with each of both men identifying themselves as speaker. On Friday, Mr Edison Form 48, which is a notice of consequence of disobedience of the Court Order against Amaewhule and Maol.

Edison has filed Form 48, which is a notice of consequence of disobedience of the Court Order against Amaewhule and his deputy.

The Applicants in the suit are the Rivers State House of Assembly, and Edison, while the alleged contemnors are Amaewhule, Maol, the Inspector General of Police, the Director, Department of State Security Services, Rivers State, and the
Commissioner of Police, Rivers State.

The applicants in suit number FHC/PHC/CS/240/2023 alleged that the respondents disobeyed the order of the court made on the 7th day of November 2023 which ordered parties not to take any step concerning the subject matter of the suit before the court.

Edison in the process, accused Amaewhule of purportedly holding a sitting at the Rivers State House of Assembly in violation of the order of the court for parties to maintain the status quo.

The Form 48 which is titled ‘Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Order of Court’ is dated the 22nd day of November, 2023, and signed by the Registrar of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Judicial Division.

Justice Phoebe Ayuba of the Federal High Court had upon the application of Edison and the Rivers State House of Assembly issued an order directing all parties to the Rivers Assembly crisis to maintain the status and not to take any step concerning the subject matter of the suit until the determination of the motion on notice.

The order reads, “That the prayers as stated on the Motion paper are denied.

“That an Order is made _ directing the Plaintiffs/Applicants to put the Respondents on Notice forthwith.

“That an Order is, however, made, directing that all parties on record respect the Court and should not take any step concerning the subject matter, since the matter is already before this Court — sub judice”

The case has been adjourned to the 27th of November, 2023