A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit filed by the late Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly over an alleged plan to impeach him.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling on Wednesday after counsel to the defendants, B.K. Angaye, applied for the case to be struck out on the ground that it had been overtaken by events.
When the case was called, no legal representative appeared for Ewhrudjakpo, who passed away on December 11 last year. Angaye announced his appearance for the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Attorney-General of the state, and the Clerk of the Assembly—listed as the 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th defendants respectively. The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) was also represented in court by Ifeoma Okonkwo.
Angaye told the court that the long-pending matter was no longer relevant due to intervening developments and urged it to be struck out. Okonkwo did not oppose the request. Justice Nwite agreed, ruling that the case had indeed been overtaken by events and struck it out.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, was originally filed by Ewhrudjakpo to stop what he described as a plan by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to impeach him after he reportedly refused to defect with Governor Douye Diri from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the suit, he alleged that lawmakers were under pressure to remove him for remaining in the PDP, the platform on which he was elected alongside Governor Diri. Although Diri defected to the APC on November 3, 2025, Ewhrudjakpo stayed in the PDP.
Through his lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba, the late deputy governor had asked the court to restrain the Assembly from initiating or proceeding with impeachment moves, citing alleged violations of constitutional provisions. He also sought protection for his position and requested that security agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police and DSS Director-General, not withdraw his security details pending determination of the case.
Following an ex-parte application on October 27, 2025, the court had ordered the defendants to show cause why interim reliefs should not be granted.
Ewhrudjakpo later died on December 11, 2025, after reportedly collapsing in his office in Yenagoa. He was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre and was buried on January 30, 2026.
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