Court of Appeal Forms Special Panel to Address Rivers State Political Disputes

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set up a special three-member panel to handle political cases arising from Rivers State. This move, scheduled to begin Thursday, November 14, comes amid escalating legal disputes tied to a growing feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The political tension has led to a surge in legal cases, with divisions deepening within the state’s political factions. Conflicting court decisions on similar matters have fueled concerns among both the public and judicial authorities. To address this, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, has appointed a dedicated panel to oversee these matters.

The new panel, headed by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, includes Justices Misitura Bokaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga. The panel is tasked with hearing appeals linked to the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. These appeals include significant cases involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly surrounding the alleged defection of 27 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC.

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On Monday, the Court of Appeal adjourned several appeals, including a case filed by the Rivers State Government against the State House of Assembly, which will now be heard by the newly established special panel. Chief Paul Erokoro, a senior lawyer representing the appellant, informed the court that arrangements were underway to ensure that all necessary documents were delivered to the respondents before Thursday’s hearing.

In addition, two other important cases were adjourned for hearing by the panel. One involves the Accountant General of Rivers State against the State House of Assembly, while another concerns the Action Peoples Party’s case against the Independent National Electoral Commission.