In a significant development, the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has overturned an arrest warrant that had been issued by a Rivers State High Court. This warrant was related to a criminal case involving Rotimi Amaechi, a former Governor of the state, and five other individuals.
On May 17, 2023, an arrest warrant was issued by Justice Chiwendu Nwogu against Rotimi Amaechi, Patrick Tonye-Cole, Augustine Wokocha, and three others. However, the decision was subsequently challenged at the Court of Appeal. In a unanimous ruling, a three-man panel led by Justice Joseph Ikyegh determined that the Rivers State High Court had made an error by proceeding with the case while it was already being contested at the Appellate Court.
Furthermore, the Appeal Court’s three-man panel not only set aside the arrest warrant against Amaechi and the five other defendants but also raised concerns about the procedure followed for serving the defendants. Achinike Williams, a counsel representing Amaechi and the other defendants, asserted that the Appeal Court’s ruling effectively puts an end to the unlawful actions of the Rivers State Government under former Governor Nyesom Wike.