By Philemon Amos

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has nullified an arrest warrant that was issued by a Rivers State High Court in a criminal case involving Rotimi Amaechi, a former Governor of the state, and five other individuals.

On May 17, 2023, Justice Chiwendu Nwogu issued the arrest warrant against Amaechi, Patrick Tonye-Cole (the All Progressives Congress’ gubernatorial candidate in the recently concluded 2023 election in Rivers State), former Commissioner for Energy Augustine Wokocha, and three others. The decision was subsequently challenged at the Court of Appeal.In a unanimous ruling, a three-man panel led by Justice Joseph Ikyegh stated that the Rivers State High Court erred in proceeding with the case while the matter was already being challenged at the Appellate Court.The three-man panel of the Appeal Court has not only set aside the warrant of arrest order against Amaechi and five others but has also criticized the procedure of serving the defendants. Achinike Williams, one of the counsels representing Amaechi and the other defendants, stated that the Appeal Court’s ruling on the case has effectively halted the unlawful actions of the Rivers State Government under former Governor Nyesom Wike.