Former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has called on Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to urgently investigate alleged misuse of oath by former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amawhule, and his colleagues.
According to Clark, the probe is necessary due to repeated contradictory statements made under oath by Amawhule and others, wherein they reportedly alternated between declaring themselves members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other affiliations.
In a statement released to journalists in Abuja, the elder statesman criticized recent judgments by Justice James Omotoso and the Court of Appeal concerning the Rivers State House of Assembly. Clark claimed the rulings were “obtained by fraud,” alleging that Amawhule and other plaintiffs concealed crucial information from the court. He argued that such omissions influenced the court’s rulings.
As leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Clark clarified that while judgments obtained by fraud reflect misrepresentations by plaintiffs, they do not undermine the judges’ integrity or competence. He further explained that Amawhule, alongside 26 Assembly members, defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023, thereby violating Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates automatic loss of seats for defectors.
Clark pointed to subsequent legal actions initiated by Amawhule and his colleagues, claiming they included conflicting statements under oath regarding their party affiliations. He argued that Justice Omotoso’s January 22, 2024 judgment is invalid, as it failed to recognize that the plaintiffs had forfeited their seats upon defection.
Additionally, Clark raised concerns over Justice Okorowo’s involvement in halting actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fill the seats vacated by the defectors prior to his promotion to the Court of Appeal.
Clark urged the IGP to investigate Amawhule and his associates for possible perjury, underscoring the importance of litigants presenting truthful and complete statements before the courts. He emphasized that judgments based on fraudulent information mislead courts, potentially altering case outcomes unjustly.
The statement highlighted Clark’s legal experience and cited examples from Nigerian and British jurisprudence on judgments obtained by fraud, reinforcing the necessity of truthful pleadings.
Finally, Clark condemned the Court of Appeal’s response to the Rivers State Governor’s appeal against Justice Omotoso’s ruling, deeming the remarks against Governor Fubara unwarranted and calling for a transparent review of the case.