A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped the Bayelsa State House of Assembly from proceeding with moves to impeach the state’s Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, pending further hearing on the case.
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Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on October 27 while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Ewhrudjakpo against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), the state’s Attorney General, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa, and the Clerk of the Assembly.
374 VIOLATORS TO PAY N5m PENALTY, GET FRESH C-OF-O UPON PAYMENT OF NECESSARY FEES SEE LIST HERE
The Deputy Governor approached the court to seek protection from alleged plans by the defendants to remove him from office over his refusal to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In the motion filed on October 17, he urged the court to stop any impeachment proceedings or meetings aimed at removing him from office before the end of his tenure.
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374 VIOLATORS TO PAY N5m PENALTY, GET FRESH C-OF-O UPON PAYMENT OF NECESSARY FEES SEE LIST HERE
Ewhrudjakpo argued that any attempt to impeach him for remaining in the PDP would violate several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including Section 188, which outlines the proper procedure for removing a sitting deputy governor. He also asked the court to restrain security agencies and state officials from withdrawing his security detail or recognizing any replacement appointed by the Assembly.
After listening to arguments from his lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba, and reviewing the affidavit supporting the motion, Justice Nwite ruled that the defendants must appear before the court to explain why an interim injunction should not be granted against them. The judge held that this was necessary to preserve justice while the substantive motion is being heard.
The court further ordered the defendants to maintain the status quo and avoid any actions that could undermine the case. The matter was adjourned to November 13 for the hearing of the motion on notice seeking an interlocutory injunction.
The dispute stems from reports that Governor Douye Diri, the Speaker, and 23 lawmakers recently defected to the APC. Ewhrudjakpo, however, refused to follow suit, prompting alleged moves within the Assembly to remove him from office. The court’s intervention temporarily halts these efforts as both sides prepare to argue the case in full.
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