PILEX CENTRE ; aka The Peoples Advocates (TPA) is an association and assembly of public interest lawyers and citizens of Nigeria who are interested in the rights of peoples globally. We are part of the Public Interest Lawyering Initiative for West Africa, Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Rivers State Network of Non-Governmental Organizations, CSO I-Report Platform/CIEPD Election Situation Room, Network of Police Reform in Nigeria, Transition Monitoring Group, Civic Space Watch Cluster etc.
Courage Nsirimovu is The Coordinator of The Public Interest Law Centre (PILEX CENTRE) aka The Peoples Advocates.
Courage Nsirimovu is aware of all the political shenanigans going on in Rivers State and Nigeria, in blatant violation of The Constitution of Nigeria and the principles of democracy.
The House of Assembly which is the Citadel and Sanctuary of Democracy has left its independent Castle of glory to descend into the dirty arena of politics and has further mortgaged its rights and entitlements to the Executive Arm of Government in Rivers State and at the Federal Level. Hence the will of the people
is relegated to the back against the ideology of democracy, which is a government for the people.
As we all know, the imbroglio in Rivers State has been in the view of the entire nation and in a bid to resolve this matter politically, The President of Nigeria issued a directive to The Governor of Rivers State to Implement.
Whereupon, the people of Rivers State, who employed His Excellency The Governor of Rivers State Siminilayi Fubara into office have studied the said directives (called resolution) and formed the opinion that it is inconsistent with the will of WE THE PEOPLE and also inconsistent with the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended).
As such, on behalf of the good people of Rivers State who are the owners of Rivers State, Courage Nsirimovu, The Public Interest Lawyer has filed a suit to stop the Governor of Rivers State from implementing the said Directives, especially Paragraphs 3 and 6 of the Directives/Resolution.
Whereupon the Applicant raised 4 Issues for determination and prayed the Court to make some declarations;
a. Whether the resolution reached and signed by His Excellency The Governor of Rivers State and Mr. Nyesom Wike The Minister of FCT and others particularly paragraphs 3 is not illegal and unconstitutional having regards to S. 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As amended)?
b. Whether the resolution reached and signed by His Excellency The Governor of Rivers State and Mr. Nyesom Wike The Minister of FCT does not amount to usurping the powers of the court and as such illegal and unconstitutional having regards to S. 6 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As amended)?
c. Whether the resolution reached and signed by His Excellency The Governor of Rivers State and Mr. Nyesom Wike The Minister of FCT and others, does not amount to suppression, oppression, coercion and usurpation of the powers of the Governor of Rivers State in violation of S. 5(2), 2 a and b of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As amended)?
d. Whether the Gov of Rivers State acted ultra vires his powers when he signed a resolution with directives that are beyond his powers in violation of S. 5 (2), 2 a and b of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As amended)?
AND IF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED IN THE NEGATIVE, the Applicant claim against the Respondent as follows:-
1. A DECLARATION that the resolution reached and signed by His Excellency The Governor of Rivers State and Mr. Nyesom Wike The Minister of FCT and others is illegal and unconstitutional having regards to S. 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As amended).
2. A DECLARATION that the resolution reached and signed by His Excellency The Governor of Rivers State and Mr. Nyesom Wike The Minister of FCT others amounts to usurping the powers of the court and as such illegal and unconstitutional having regards to S. 6 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As amended).
3. A DECLARATION that the resolution reached and signed by His Excellency The Governor of Rivers State and Mr. Nyesom Wike The Minister of FCT and others (especially paragraphs 3 and 6) is ultra vires the powers of the Governor of Rivers State and amounts to suppression, oppression, coercion and usurpation of the powers of the Governor of Rivers State in violation of S. 5 (2)(a) & (b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).
4. AN ORDER declaring the said resolution inconsistent with S. 5(2), 2(a), and (b), S 6(2), and 109 (1)(g) of The Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), hence unconstitutional, null and void.
5. AN ORDER of Court restraining the 1st Respondent from implementing the said Resolutions, particularly paragraph 3, 4, 6 and 7 which are manifestly unconstitutional.
6. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDER OR ORDERS as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances. Courage Nsirimovu noticed that paragraph 3 of THE DIRECTIVE/RESOLUTION is asking the Governor to assume the position of the Court to determine that the 27 Lawmakers who defected are still legitimate, while paragraph 6 is asking the
Governor to re-present the budget (which is now law) to an “illegitimate House of Assembly”.
Courage Nsirimovu uses this medium to advice the Governor and Rivers State House of Assembly and good
people of Rivers State, that whatever law or action that proceeds out of the activities of the 27 lawmakers who
decamped will be challenged in Court as illegal. Courage Nsirimovu calls on the Elders and good people of
Rivers State to support this suit in order to take back the soul and life and resources and monies and commonwealth
of Rivers State from one (1) man. As the Chief Priest prophesied, “it is better for one man to die than for the
whole nation of Israel be destroyed “. Rivers State is at the verge of destruction, poverty, underdevelopment if we do not ACT NOW.
Yours in service to Humanity
……………………………………
COURAGE NSIRIMOVU ESQ.
COORDINATOR (THE PEOPLES ADVOCATES)
