The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has overturned a warrant of arrest that was issued by a Rivers State High Court in a criminal case brought by the Rivers State Government against former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and five others, News About Nigeria reports.
On May 17, 2023, Justice Chiwendu Nwogu issued the warrant of arrest against Amaechi, Patrick Tonye-Cole (the Rivers State Governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress in the recently concluded 2023 election), former Commissioner for Energy Augustine Wokocha, and three others. This warrant of arrest was subsequently challenged at the Appeal Court.
A three-man panel, led by Justice Joseph Ikyegh, ruled unanimously to set aside the warrant of arrest in response to the application. The panel declared that the Rivers State High Court was incorrect in proceeding with the case when the matter was already being challenged at the Appellate Court.
Additionally, the Appeal Court panel criticized the process of serving the defendants with the warrant of arrest and set it aside as well.
Achinike Williams, one of the counsels representing Amaechi and the other defendants, commented on the ruling, stating that it “puts an end to the illegal actions of the Rivers State Government under former Governor Nyesom Wike.”
