Here’s a detailed breakdown of the recent court decision regarding the Rivers Local Government dispute:
Federal High Court, Port Harcourt
Friday
Justice Muhammed Turaki
Initiative for Transparency, Strategy and Good Leadership, indigene of Rivers State (Joshua Rufus), and 21 former local government chairmen.
– The court has granted an ex parte application allowing the service of court documents to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) through substituted means.
– The State Commissioner of Police in Rivers State will be served through the Officer in Charge (OC) Legal at the State CID.
– The defendants include the IGP, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, the AGF, the Attorney General of Rivers State, the Governor of Rivers State (Siminalayi Fubara), and the Head of Service.
– The Initiative for Transparency, Strategy and Good Leadership, along with Joshua Rufus, is seeking relief to have the police vacate the local government council entrances across the 23 LGAs in Rivers State.
– The claimants argue that the police presence at these entrances is impeding normal business activities.
– The court issued an ex parte order allowing the service of court documents on the Attorney General of Rivers State, the Governor of Rivers State, and the Head of Service by delivering the documents to the Attorney General’s office.
– N.O. Onyilokwu and Clarissa C. Chibuike have appeared seeking to join the matter on behalf of the 21 former local government chairmen.
– The court has adjourned the case to September 2, 2024, for further proceedings.
The case involves a dispute over the presence of police at local government council secretariats in Rivers State, which the claimants argue is hindering their operations and activities. The court’s decision to permit substituted service aims to ensure that all involved parties are properly notified and can respond to the claims being made.