Court of Appeal Sets Up Special Panel for Rivers Political Cases

The special panel will also address other cases, including one by the Accountant General of Rivers State against the Rivers State House of Assembly, and another filed by the Action Peoples Party against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others.

Abuja, Nigeria – The Court of Appeal has established a three-member special panel to address the growing number of political cases from Rivers State, with hearings set to begin on Thursday, November 14.

The move comes as legal battles intensify following a rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Amid mounting disputes that have resulted in conflicting judgments from courts of equal standing, criticism from both the public and judiciary stakeholders has spurred this intervention. To streamline the handling of these cases, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, appointed the special panel.

The panel will be led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi and include Justices Misitura Bokaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga. Their mandate is to resolve key political appeals involving major figures and factions in the state, including cases affecting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

One prominent appeal on the docket is from Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as cases addressing the alleged defection of 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike from the PDP to the APC.

During a session on Monday, Justice Hamma Barka, presiding over a separate panel, announced the adjournment of three appeals to be heard by the new special panel. One of the adjourned cases, marked CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1211m1/2024, involves the Rivers State Government and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Paul Erokoro, representing the appellant, committed to ensuring that all necessary documents would be served to the respondents before the Thursday hearing. He also requested more time to review new filings received from the respondents.

Counsel for the first and second respondents, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) and Dr. Joshua Musa (SAN), did not object to the adjournment.

The special panel will also address other cases, including one by the Accountant General of Rivers State against the Rivers State House of Assembly, and another filed by the Action Peoples Party against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others.