A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an interim order restraining the Chief Judge of Rivers State from taking any steps towards the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The order followed moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly, which had formally requested the Chief Judge to constitute a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Governor Fubara and his deputy.
The lawmakers had, on Friday, adopted the resolution through a unanimous vote, insisting that the impeachment process would proceed despite what they described as attempts by the governor to intimidate and blackmail the legislature.
In a statement issued by the Speaker of the House, Martins Chike Amaewhule, and forwarded to the Chief Judge on January 16, the Assembly formally requested the constitution of an investigative panel in line with the provisions of the Constitution.
However, in a dramatic twist, the Rivers State High Court on Friday, restrained the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, from receiving, forwarding, considering, or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment, or other documents aimed at constituting a panel to investigate the alleged misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy for a period of seven days.
The presiding judge, Justice F.A. Fiberesima, while ruling on a motion ex parte in two separate suits filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Odu, also granted leave to the claimants to serve the interim order and originating processes in Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and Suit No. OYHC/6/CS/2026 on the first to 31st defendants by pasting the court papers at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters.
