The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has debunked claims surrounding the withdrawal of a legal case involving the defection of 27 lawmakers in Rivers State. Speaking during an interview with Symfoni, Wike clarified that the Rivers State government was not responsible for filing the case and, therefore, could not have withdrawn it.
Wike emphasized that under Nigerian law, only the party that initiates a case—the plaintiff—has the authority to withdraw it. He dismissed reports suggesting that the Rivers State legal team had withdrawn the case as misleading and inaccurate. “Who went to court? So, who will withdraw the case? We went to court, and you are a defendant. So, how do you withdraw a case that you did not file? It is the plaintiff that can withdraw the case, and not the defendant. They thought that they were too smart,” he stated.
The minister explained that the Rivers State government had no hand in filing the case against the lawmakers accused of defection. According to Wike, the confusion stems from a lack of understanding of the legal process, where the decision to withdraw a case lies solely with the plaintiff.
In discussing the context of the claims, Wike linked the situation to earlier events involving an impeachment notice in Rivers State. He revealed that the state assembly had withdrawn the impeachment notice after President Bola Tinubu’s advice. However, he accused certain individuals of later instigating others to file a legal case against the defecting lawmakers.
Wike expressed frustration over what he described as the manipulation of the legal process for political purposes. He accused the Rivers State Governor of encouraging the filing of the case as a means to further political agendas. The minister criticized these tactics as attempts to mislead the public and tarnish the credibility of the Rivers State legal team.
Concluding his remarks, Wike urged Nigerians to seek clarity on legal matters and not fall prey to deliberate misinformation. He stressed that the claims of withdrawal were baseless, reiterating that the Rivers State government was not in a position to withdraw a case it did not file.
Peoplesmind
