The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has established a three-member special panel to handle all appeals concerning ongoing political disputes in Rivers State, including the case involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly.
The special panel, led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, is scheduled to hold its first hearing on Thursday. Other panel members include Justices Misitura Bokaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga.
On Monday, another panel of the Court of Appeal adjourned three Rivers State-related appeals to Thursday, when Justice Otisi’s panel will officially begin its review. During the hearing, Justice Hamma Barka, who initially presided, noted that six defendants had not yet been served, prompting him to ask the appellant’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), about the next steps.
Erokoro explained that steps would be taken to serve the remaining respondents and noted that the appeal, marked CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1211m1/2024 and filed by the Rivers State Government against the State House of Assembly and 17 others, was one of the cases assigned to the special panel.
Erokoro also requested an adjournment to November 14 to allow time for filing necessary responses.
Senior advocates Ferdinand Orbih, representing the first and second respondents, and Dr. Joshua Musa, representing the third to twelfth respondents, agreed to the proposed date, leading the court to adjourn until November 14.
Two other appeals were also rescheduled for Thursday, including one filed by the Rivers State Accountant General against the State House of Assembly (marked CA/ABJ/CV/1222m1/2024) and another filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 28 others (marked CA/ABJ/CV/1208/2024).
The exact number of appeals awaiting the special panel’s attention has not been confirmed.
