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The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the Rivers State House of Assembly, its officers and security agents from arresting, detaining or compelling the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), Professor Smith Jaja, to appear before an ad hoc committee investigating the management of funds received by the university from the Rivers State Government.
The order was made in Suit No. PHC/3692/FHR/2026 following an ex-parte application filed by Professor Jaja under the Fundamental Human Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.
In the order dated September 30, 2026, the court restrained the fourth and fifth respondents—the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State—and their officers, servants and other security agents from enforcing or giving effect to any resolution by the first to third respondents directing the arrest, apprehension, detention or forcible appearance of the applicant before the ad hoc committee or any committee established by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The first respondent is the Rivers State House of Assembly, while the second is the Speaker of the Assembly. The third respondent is Hon. Dumle Maol, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and Chairman of the ad hoc committee investigating the management of funds received from the Rivers State Government by PUMS.
Justice F. Onyiri also granted the applicant leave to serve the originating processes and other court orders on the first to third respondents by substituted means.
The court authorised service by dropping the processes at the main gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly at Assembly Quarters, Aba Road, Port Harcourt, or by publication in Today's Top News newspaper, which the order states circulates widely in Rivers State, including at the Assembly Complex.
The court further granted Professor Jaja leave to serve the fourth and fifth respondents through the fifth respondent at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
The matter was adjourned to October 9, 2026, for hearing of the substantive application seeking enforcement of the applicant's fundamental rights.
The order was made after the court considered the affidavit of Professor Jaja and a written address filed in support of the application. The court record shows that Dr C.A.J. Chinwo, assisted by S. Udesi, appeared for the applicant.
The court's order is interim in nature, with the substantive application still pending for hearing on October 9.
