In a recent legal development at the High Court of Rivers State, Nigeria, the Hon. Justice M. W. Danagogo presided over a motion ex parte in Suit No. PHC/3030/C5/2023. The involved parties are the Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, as claimants/applicants, against Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule and Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol as defendants.
The case stems from the aftermath of a fire incident that engulfed the Rivers State House of Assembly complex on October 29, 2023. Following this, the executive Governor of Rivers State had ordered the relocation of the Assembly’s sitting to a secure venue during the building’s renovation.
Upon hearing the motion, the court issued the following interim orders:
⁃ An order restraining the defendants and the claimants from using armed thugs, accompanied by police personnel, to gain access to the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
⁃ An order preventing the defendants from disrupting the smooth operation of the claimants and interfering with their legislative duties during the renovation period.
⁃ The second claimant is obligated to pay N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) in damages if the application is deemed frivolous. 
