We’ll comply with judgment —Rivers Assembly

RIVERS State House of Assembly, yesterday, said it would comply with the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja which reversed the decision of the National Assembly to take over its functions.

In a statement issued yesterday, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Leyii Kwanee, who said they sought the permission of the Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree, said the House would abide  by the court verdict, insisting that it was a welcome development.

He said: “Just this afternoon, we were informed by our team of lawyers in Abuja that the court had given judgement reversing the decision of the National Assembly taking over our responsibility as enshrined by the Constitution. While we consider this a welcome development because Rivers constituents have suffered as a result of this inactivity, we do hope we get back to job very soon.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Onari Brown, who would have given adequate briefing to the press as it relates to this, incidentally, is burying his uncle, so he obtained permission to be away. Considering also that this is a matter that has got to do with the judiciary, I have at my right hand here the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Golden Chioma to give a little insight to the press on the new development.”

Also, the House Committee Chairman on Judiciary, Chioma said they would visit the Police to acquaint it of the court judgment  for assembly to be opened for activities.
He said: “With the leave of the Speaker, I want to say that the Rivers State House of Assembly is a law abiding organ of government and will abide by the court judgment.

The court in its wisdom has decided to give back our legislative functions which were taken away by virtue of section 11 sub 4 of the 1999 constitution as amended, but now the court has given the decision which we must abide by and we will abide by it because we are elected to do the functions as enshrined.”