A coalition of opposition Lawmakers have raised the alarm over impending Constitutional anarchy that is looming with the plot by Pro-Wike group to use the Federal High Court in Abuja to seize Rivers State Allocation despite pending cases at Appeal and Supreme Court.
The lawmakers said the Pro Wike group, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT’s intends to use the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to destabilize Rivers State by seizing local government allocations to make governance at the third tier of the oil rich state comatose.
The opposition lawmakers in a statement on Friday by its Spokesman, lkenga Imo Ugochinyere, asked the Chief Judge of Federal High Court, John Tsoho and other Judges, especially Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik to halt the clandestine move to use the court to seize Rivers Allocation in favour of Pro Wike group.
Ugochinyere stated that such alleged action will destabilise constitutional governance and illegally hijack the statutory revenue of a people that is secured by the constitution.
The coalition stated that they had received credible intelligence over plots by Wike and his cohorts to connive with the High Court judges to perpetrate the evil against democracy and people of the oil rich state.
He said; “We are receiving intelligence that the Pro-Wike group has perfected their move to use the Federal High Court to seize the statutory sovereign constitutional revenue of Rivers State and they are going to ensure that the matter is heard and concluded today and judgement delivered in days to come.
“Nigerians are watching, this is the people’s federal high court, it’s not the private property of anyone. Judges will come and go but it’s an institution that people must have confidence in.
“It’s about the confidence and belief that justice has been done. Is this what justice Tsoho wants to be remembered for? A Federal High Court of Wike Interest? Are we now going to elevate the building of Houses for Judges above manifest issues of Justice and Public Good?
“If the sacked lawmakers have not lost their seat by decampment they should have used their powers if they feel the Governor is not doing the right thing not to run to the court room and use the court to legislate or perform legislative functions .
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“There is no provision for seizing statutory public funds because the funds are for constitutional purposes. I want lawyers to speak up, your institution is under attack!! We can’t because of one man’s selfish interest and reduce our institution!
“You want to seize the statutory revenue of an arm of government? So what will happen to teachers, students,salaries, hospitals, drugs, security, and the welfare of the people?
“The Court has no such powers,they want to throw that state into anarchy and burn it to the ground, and you want Nigerians to clap for you.NJC must review all these rulings on Rivers, it’s becoming embarrassing!”
“The people of Rivers State have elected their council chairman and councillors in line with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court to democratize all LGAs in Nigeria and any attempt to truncate democracy in Rivers would be resisted by the people.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can not afford to fold his arms and watch as the Wike’s group plots to reverse democracy in Rivers State and undermine the peace and stability of the country.”
