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Rivers Crisis: Court Reserves Judgment In Amaewhule’s Appeal

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by a former speaker of the River State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 others against the Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and five others.

The appellate court adjourned after the parties in the suit adopted all their briefs in the matter.

At the proceeding that was conducted virtually on Thursday, Amaewhule and others are asking the court to stay execution of a high court judgement which saw them out of office and further proceedings in the suit and that whatever decisions Jumbo has taken while in office, should be set aside.

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They are also asking for an accelerated hearing in the matter while contending that the order made by the trial court was without jurisdiction.

READ ALSO: Fubara Orders Audit Of LGAs Accounts In Rivers

In their response, Amaewhule and others, prayed the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit because the records of appeal transmitted were incompetent.

After listening to the submission of the lawyers in the appeal, the three-man panel led by Justice Jimi Olukayode-Bada reserved a date for judgment to be communicated to parties in the suit.

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The appellate court had in a ruling on June 14 ordered that all parties in the suit maintain status quo and cease every form of hostilities until the matter is heard and decided.

This was to lay to rest a motion exparte brought before the court by the appellants seeking reversal of a high court judgment that declared their seats vacant as lawmakers.

The appeal court also stopped the State High Court or any other court from entertaining the matter until it was decided.

READ ALSO: Rivers Plans Parallel Secretariats As Police Bar Fubara Caretaker Chairmen

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A Rivers State High Court, in Port Harcourt, had on May 10, 2024, stopped Martin Amaewhule from parading himself as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The court gave the order after considering a motion brought before it by the new Speaker of the House, Victor Jumbo, and 2 others, to the effect that his seat had been declared vacant.

Justice Charles Wali, while ruling on the motion ex parte, also barred 24 other members of the Assembly from accessing the complex or carrying out any such Legislative assignment in the name of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Dissatisfied with the verdict of the State High Court, Amaewhule and others approached the appellate court.

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JUST IN: Bandits Strike Abuja Town, Kill One, Kidnap Four

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A band of terrorists on Sunday morning invaded the Guto area of Bwari Area Council in the nation’s capital, Abuja, reportedly killing one person and abducting four others.

Sources told Vanguard that the attack which began around 12:30am around the fringes of Guto and Piyawe communities, soon got into Tudun-Fulani and Sabon Gari areas, both in the Council.

The armed men, numbering over 30 were said to have divided themselves into two groups and attacked the communities from various angles, having entered Piwaye through the swamps.

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They were consequently said to have killed a woman, Madam Alice, who was in her mid 40s and then kidnapped a man.

READ ALSO: Police Rearrest Controversial Social Media Influencer, VeryDarkMan

Alice was said to have gone to the area to visit her sick mother who was being taken care of by her brother when she was killed.

Two victims were allegedly abducted from their homes in Guto, while another person was kidnapped from Tudun-Fulani, which is less than a kilometre from the council Secretariat.

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A resident who preferred anonymity, said the attackers operated from 12:30am to 2:30am with no challenge from security agencies.

He said; “What happened last night was very unfortunate. We couldn’t sleep from 12:30am when they stated till almost three o’clock. Initially we thought it was the vigilance teams who were shooting, but when it became persistent, we knew these people were back again.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Bandits’ Spiritual Leader, 25-Year-Old Female Gunrunner, Others In Kaduna

“We have had peace for sometime now but unfortunately they have resumed and this time with full force because it was two groups that entered Bwari that night. One was in Guto while the other group was in Piyawe. It was obvious those ones came prepared, because the sounds we heard through the night, suggested they came with sophisticated weapons.”

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Another resident of Tudun-Fulani who would not like to be mentioned, alleged that the police failed to show even when frantic calls where made to the divisional headquarters in Bwari.

“We felt so helpless because the kidnappers operated for over an hour, but there was no police or army to challenge them. I called my neighbour when the shooting started and he said he had already called the police. We waited for them to show up for 20 minutes and when we didn’t hear sounds of sirens, we called again but they kept telling us they were on their way. We never saw them until the kidnappers left on their own.”

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Two Die As Police Engage Kidnappers In A’Ibom Gun Duel

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Two out of six armed men who kidnapped an old man, (name withheld) in Akwa Ibom State have died during a gun battle with police operatives in the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John, who disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday explained that the command has intensified the hunt for four other fleeing suspected members of the Kidnap gang.

ASP John noted that the abducted victim (name undisclosed) was reached at Afaha Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local government area, where his abductors had abandoned him.

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READ ALSO: UPDATED: 30 Killed, 100 Injured In Suicide Attacks At Borno Wedding, Funeral

Her words, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued a kidnap victim (name withheld) who was kidnapped by about six armed men. On receipt of the report, the Command Tactical teams swiftly responded and went after the kidnappers.

“In an ensued gun battle, two of the kidnappers were fatally injured. They were taken to a hospital where they were confirmed dead while others escaped with the victim.

“However, at about 2000hrs on the same day following a hot chase of the kidnappers, the abducted victim was abandoned at Afaha Nsit in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area where he was rescued by the Police and taken to the Police Clinic for medical attention.

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READ ALSO:One Dies In Third Mainland Bridge Accident

“One tricycle, one Mitsubishi Hilux vehicle, mobile phones, expanded cartridges and other items suspected to be charms were recovered.

“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Akwa Ibom State Police Command, CP Waheed Ayilara has reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering Commitment and dedication to making Akwa Ibom uncomfortable for criminals.

“The CP thanked the good people of Akwa Ibom State for their support to the Police. He urged them to always report any suspicious acts or movement to the Police and other security agencies.”

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Police Rearrest Controversial Social Media Influencer, VeryDarkMan

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The Nigerian police have rearrested Martins Vincent Otse, a social media influencer and blogger popularly known as VeryDarkMan.

VDM’s law firm, Deji Adeyanju and Partners Chambers, conveyed this information to Vanguard on Sunday through a telephone chat message.

According to the report, the arrest follows VDM’s public exposure of an individual accused of defrauding a Nigerian citizen living abroad.

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READ ALSO: Controversial Social Media Critic, VeryDarkMan Regains Freedom After Two Weeks Detention

The message read, “Our client, @ThatVeryDarkMan, has just been arrested by the police on the orders of the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Mr Benneth Igwe. for exposing someone who allegedly duped a Nigerian abroad.

“Instead of the police arresting the person alleged to have committed fraud, they arrested VDM on grounds of defamation.”

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