The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has constituted a three-member special panel to address all appeals related to political disputes in Rivers State. The panel, headed by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, will begin hearing cases, including the ongoing conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, starting Thursday.

The panel also includes Justices Misitura Bokaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga. The formation of the special panel follows a Monday court session in which three appeals concerning the Rivers State political crisis were adjourned, and their hearings were scheduled for Thursday under the guidance of Justice Otisi.

During the Monday session, Justice Hamma Barka, who had initially presided over the cases, noted that several defendants (13 to 18) had not been served with the necessary documents. The appellant’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), explained that some respondents had only recently received service of process, prompting a request for additional time to file replies. Erokoro sought an adjournment until November 14, which was granted after consultation with the other lawyers representing the respondents.

In addition to the case involving the Rivers State Government and the Rivers State House of Assembly, two other appeals were adjourned for Thursday’s hearing: one filed by the Accountant General of Rivers State against the Rivers State House of Assembly and 10 other parties, and another filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 28 others. The total number of appeals awaiting the special panel’s attention remains unspecified.