The impeachment process against Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has moved to the next constitutional stage following a formal request by the Rivers State House of Assembly for the constitution of an investigative panel.
In a letter dated January 16, 2026, and addressed to the Chief Judge of Rivers State, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, formally requested the appointment of a seven-member investigative panel in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The request, issued from the Office of the Speaker, seeks the investigation of allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, as part of the wider impeachment proceedings initiated by the Assembly.
Amaewhule explained that the resolution followed due legislative process, noting that the House, at its 60th legislative sitting of the Third Session of the 10th Assembly, resolved in compliance with Section 188(4) of the Constitution that the allegations be formally investigated.
“This request is a necessary constitutional step to ensure transparency, fairness, and adherence to due process in addressing allegations of gross misconduct brought before the House,” the Speaker stated.
According to the letter, relevant documents have been forwarded to aid the work of the proposed panel, including acknowledged copies of the forwarding letter of the Notice of Allegations of Gross Misconduct, photocopies of the notice itself, the Rivers State Impeachment Panel (Conduct of Investigations) Procedure, 2025, as well as selected newspaper publications from national dailies such as The Guardian, Saturday Sun, and The Nation.
Amaewhule stressed that the Assembly remains committed to constitutionalism and the rule of law, insisting that the process is not driven by sentiment but by legislative responsibility.
“The House has acted strictly within the confines of the Constitution. Our duty is to uphold democratic institutions and ensure that all public office holders are accountable under the law,” he said.
The formal request signals a major escalation in the impeachment process, effectively transferring the matter from the legislative chamber to the judiciary for independent investigation, as required by law.
Political observers say the development underscores the Assembly’s determination to see the impeachment process through, amid heightened political tension in the state. The constitution of the panel by the Chief Judge would mark a decisive phase in the unfolding political crisis in Rivers State.
