Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Court Documents Reveal How Truck Driver, Foreign Nationals Defraud Dangote Of Billions
    • Coalition Wobbles: ADC Faces Uncertainty Without Atiku, Obi’s Commitment
    • Nigeria: Why Brazil. Yes, Brazil – By Sunday Dare
    • Who Spoke, Who Stayed Silent?: 48 Reps, 5 Senators Recorded Zero Contributions In One Year, Report Reveals
    • ‘Kauyawa’ And ‘Ajo’ Wedding Parties Now Forbidden’, Taraba Muslim Leaders Announce Ban
    • Nigerian Air Force Kills 35 ISWAP Fighters In Precision Strikes Near Cameroon Border
    • Obasanjo, Malema, Over 20,000 Lawyers Converge On Enugu For 2025 NBA Conference
    • Nigeria Is Full Of Single Girls – By Funke Egbemode
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    NEWS POINT NIGERIANEWS POINT NIGERIA
    UBA 720X90
    • HOME
    • NEWS

      Court Documents Reveal How Truck Driver, Foreign Nationals Defraud Dangote Of Billions

      August 24, 2025

      Coalition Wobbles: ADC Faces Uncertainty Without Atiku, Obi’s Commitment

      August 24, 2025

      Who Spoke, Who Stayed Silent?: 48 Reps, 5 Senators Recorded Zero Contributions In One Year, Report Reveals

      August 24, 2025

      ‘Kauyawa’ And ‘Ajo’ Wedding Parties Now Forbidden’, Taraba Muslim Leaders Announce Ban

      August 24, 2025

      Nigerian Air Force Kills 35 ISWAP Fighters In Precision Strikes Near Cameroon Border

      August 24, 2025
    • COLUMN

      Nigeria Is Full Of Single Girls – By Funke Egbemode

      August 24, 2025

      Bye Elections And The Reality Check – By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah

      August 23, 2025

      Putin As The President’s Medicine – By Azu Ishiekwene

      August 22, 2025

      AI As The New Indolence, That Netanyahu Call, Salah’s Tweet And Our Kwam Mentality (1) – By Dr Hassan Gimba

      August 18, 2025

      From KWAM 1 To KWAM 2: How Not To Run A Nation – By Kazeem Akintunde

      August 18, 2025
    • EDUCATION

      FG Names Prof. Adamu Acting Vice-Chancellor To Steer UniAbuja For Three Months

      August 9, 2025

      13 Countries Offering Free Or Low-Cost PhD Programmes For Non-Citizens

      January 25, 2025

      NECO: Abia, Imo Top Performing States In Two Years, Katsina, Zamfara Come Last

      October 3, 2024

      NBTE Accredits 17 Programmes At Federal Polytechnic Kabo

      August 20, 2024

      15 Most Expensive Universities In Nigeria

      May 19, 2024
    • INTERNATIONAL

      Israeli Attacks Kill 63 As Troops Push Deeper Into Gaza City

      August 24, 2025

      Russia Claims More Ukraine Land As Hopes For Peace Agreement Fade

      August 24, 2025

      Dutch Prime Minister, Cabinet Members Resign Over EU’s Refusal To Sanction Israel On Gaza Genocide

      August 23, 2025

      Tension As North Korea Accuses South Korean Troops Of Firing Warning Shots Near Border

      August 23, 2025

      Israeli’s Netanyahu Approves Gaza City Seizure Despite Ceasefire Talks

      August 22, 2025
    • JUDICIARY

      FULL LIST: Judicial Council Recommends Appointment Of 11 Supreme Court Justices

      December 6, 2023

      Supreme Court: Judicial Council Screens 22 Nominees, Candidates Face DSS, Others

      November 29, 2023

      FULL LIST: Judicial Commission Nominates 22 Justices For Elevation To Supreme Court

      November 16, 2023

      Seven Key Issues Resolved By Seven Supreme Court Judges

      October 26, 2023

      FULL LIST: CJN To Swear In Falana’s Wife, 57 Others As SANs November 27

      October 12, 2023
    • POLITICS

      What Peter Obi May Lose If He Joins Coalition As VP Candidate

      May 25, 2025

      Atiku Moves To Unseat Wike’s Damagum As PDP Chairman, Backs Suswam As Replacement

      April 15, 2024

      Edo’s Senator Matthew Uroghide, Others Defect To APC

      April 13, 2024

      Finally, Wike Opens Up On Rift With Peter Odili

      April 2, 2024

      El-Rufa’i’s Debt Burden: APC Suspends Women Leader For Criticising Kaduna Gov

      March 31, 2024
    • SPORTS

      Super Eagles Striker, Victor Boniface’s AC Milan Transfer Stalls Over Fresh Knee Injury Concerns

      August 24, 2025

      Tottenham Emerge Favourites As Five English Clubs Chase Nigeria’s Forward, Ademola Lookman

      August 24, 2025

      Osimhen, Ndidi, Iwobi Return As Coach Chelle Names Squad For Crucial World Cup Qualifiers

      August 23, 2025

      Taribo West Slams NFF, Lagos FA For Abandoning Late Goalkeeper Peter Rufai’s Family

      August 23, 2025

      Former Super Eagles Forward, Brown Ideye Retires From Football At 36

      August 22, 2025
    • MORE
      • AFRICA
      • ANALYSIS
      • BUSINESS
      • ENTERTAINMENT
      • FEATURED
      • LENS SPEAK
      • INFO – TECH
      • INTERVIEW
      • NIGERIA DECIDES
      • OPINION
      • Personality Profile
      • Picture of the month
      • Science
      • Special Project
      • Videos
      • Weekend Sports
    NEWS POINT NIGERIANEWS POINT NIGERIA
    UBA 720X90
    Home - Rivers Crisis: National Assembly Urges Supreme Court To Dismiss PDP’s Suit, Seeks N1bn Damages

    Rivers Crisis: National Assembly Urges Supreme Court To Dismiss PDP’s Suit, Seeks N1bn Damages

    By Hamza RufaiMay 5, 2025
    NASS 2

    THE National Assembly has urged the Supreme Court of Nigeria to dismiss the suit filed by 11 governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

    In its response, it contended that the suit was procedurally flawed and lacked merit.

    It further argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and should award N1 billion in costs against the plaintiffs for filing what it termed a frivolous and speculative suit.

    TAZKIYAH UNIVERSITY

    In a preliminary objection, the National Assembly argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case, particularly against it, “the second defendant”.

    Declaring that it holds a memorandum of conditional appearance, the National Assembly argued that due process was not followed in instituting the suit, emphasising that the plaintiffs failed to issue the statutorily required three-month pre-action notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly, as mandated under Section 21 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.

    UBA

    It stated that “a person who has a cause of action against a Legislative House shall serve a three months’ notice to the office of the Clerk of the Legislative House disclosing the cause of action and reliefs sought”.

    Additionally, NASS argued that the plaintiffs did not secure resolutions from their respective State Houses of Assembly, a prerequisite for approaching the Supreme Court under its original jurisdiction provisions outlined in the Supreme Court (Original Jurisdiction) Act, 2002.

    Happy Birthday

    Citing alleged threats referenced in the plaintiffs’ suit, which borders on a statement attributed to the Attorney-General during a press briefing, NASS noted that since the threat did not emanate from them or its officers, the suit had no business with them.

    “Considering the affidavit in support and the threats alleged, which did not come from the second defendant, there is no cause of action against it. This is a suit relating to an alleged threatened declaration or proclamation of a state of emergency in the plaintiffs’ states by the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

    Nigerian TAX Reform - Federal Goverment

    “This is allegedly a result of the statement of the first defendant in a press briefing held March 19, 2025, wherein he is said to have stated that after Rivers State, ..it can be anybody’s turn tomorrow….’ None of the alleged threat or statement is alluded to the second defendant or any of its officers,” it argued.

    The 11 PDP governors had approached the Supreme Court to raise questions on what authority the President had to suspend a democratically elected state institution and replace it with an unelected one.

    The plaintiffs in the suit are the governors of Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa states.

    National Orientation Agency Page UP
    National Orientation Agency - Down

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and the National Assembly were listed as the first and second defendants, respectively, in the suit.

    The states in the suit asked the apex court to determine six constitutional questions, including whether the President of Nigeria can lawfully suspend or interfere with the offices of a governor and deputy governor and replace them with an unelected appointee under the guise of a state of emergency proclamation.

    But the National Assembly further contended, “With the objection amongst others submitted, due process of instituting the action in the suit was not followed by the plaintiffs before taking this steps against the second defendants as the plaintiffs failed to issue the requisite three months pre-action notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly and took no steps to obtain the resolutions of the Houses of Assembly of each of the states to enable the plaintiffs each join to approach this busy Court pursuant to the provision of the Supreme Court (Original Jurisdiction) Act 2002 on the matters”.

    NASS further asserted that the plaintiffs were attempting to use the Supreme Court to dictate how it exercised its constitutional role, particularly regarding the use of voice votes to ratify states of emergency under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.

    The objection described the suit as speculative and an abuse of court process.

    NASS added, “The second defendant/applicant, having observed the several deficiencies in the suit of the plaintiffs which go contrary to the provisions of the laws and the jurisdiction of the court, raises an objection and submits that the 11 states (plaintiffs) approached the court wrongly and in abuse of court process.”

    Further in its objection, predicated on six grounds, the second defendant contended that the plaintiffs’ suit lacked a cause of action.

    It stated that the plaintiffs lack locus standi to proceed against the second defendant on the issues raised in the suit.

    The National Assembly also argued that the plaintiffs failed to comply with due process as stipulated under Section 2, Schedule 2 of the Supreme Court (Additional Original Jurisdiction) Act, 2002.

    A legal officer in the Directorate of Legal Services at the National Assembly, Godswill Onyegbu, in an affidavit supporting the notice of preliminary objection deposed, argued that due process was not followed in instituting the suit.

    Onyegbu maintained that no dispute exists between the plaintiffs and either the Government of Nigeria or the second defendant (NASS).

    “The plaintiffs did not obtain the required resolutions from the Houses of Assembly in their respective states to authorise the suit under the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction. There is no cause of action against the second defendant, as no threat emanated from the second defendant’s office,” he said.

    He added that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute this suit as none of the plaintiffs had shown that it has suffered anything far and above any other persons or people of Rivers State.

    “There are no disputes involving questions of law or fact upon which the existence or extent of a legal right depends between the parties. The plaintiffs have not established any legal rights against the second defendant to warrant equitable relief such as a perpetual injunction,” the lawyer added.

    In addition to requesting the dismissal of the suit, Onyegbu called for costs of N1 billion to be awarded jointly and severally against the plaintiffs in the interest of justice.

    He further stated, “That the plaintiffs’ states’ houses of assembly did not pass any resolution by a simple majority of the members present and sitting at the time of the resolution authorising the plaintiffs to institute this action.

    “That the plaintiffs have not established any legal rights against the second defendant to enjoy the equitable remedy of perpetual injunction.

    “That it is in the best interest of justice for the court to dismiss or strike out this suit against the second defendant with a cost of N1 billion only, jointly and severally against the plaintiffs”.

    National Assembly PDP Rivers Crisis
    Share. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn Telegram Email

    Related Posts

    Court Documents Reveal How Truck Driver, Foreign Nationals Defraud Dangote Of Billions

    August 24, 2025

    Coalition Wobbles: ADC Faces Uncertainty Without Atiku, Obi’s Commitment

    August 24, 2025

    Who Spoke, Who Stayed Silent?: 48 Reps, 5 Senators Recorded Zero Contributions In One Year, Report Reveals

    August 24, 2025

    ‘Kauyawa’ And ‘Ajo’ Wedding Parties Now Forbidden’, Taraba Muslim Leaders Announce Ban

    August 24, 2025
    Add A Comment
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Latest Posts

    Court Documents Reveal How Truck Driver, Foreign Nationals Defraud Dangote Of Billions

    August 24, 2025

    Coalition Wobbles: ADC Faces Uncertainty Without Atiku, Obi’s Commitment

    August 24, 2025

    Nigeria: Why Brazil. Yes, Brazil – By Sunday Dare

    August 24, 2025

    Who Spoke, Who Stayed Silent?: 48 Reps, 5 Senators Recorded Zero Contributions In One Year, Report Reveals

    August 24, 2025

    ‘Kauyawa’ And ‘Ajo’ Wedding Parties Now Forbidden’, Taraba Muslim Leaders Announce Ban

    August 24, 2025
    Advertisement
    WIDGET ADS
    News Point NG
    © 2025 NEWS POINT NIGERIA Developed by ENGRMKS & CO.
    • Home
    • About us
    • Disclaimer
    • Our Advert Rates
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Join Us On WhatsApp