A High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an interim order restraining the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from taking any action in connection with an impeachment process initiated against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The court’s decision followed moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly, which had earlier written to the Chief Judge, requesting the constitution of a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of misconduct leveled against the governor and his deputy.
The ruling was delivered by the High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area, sitting in Port Harcourt, after considering two separate lawsuits filed by Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu. The suits, numbered OYHC/7/CS/2026 and OYHC/6/CS/2026 respectively, challenged the legality and procedural basis of the impeachment steps taken by the House of Assembly.
In granting the applications, the court issued interim injunctions restraining the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, alongside 32 other defendants, from proceeding with any aspect of the impeachment process. Those affected by the order include the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of the state.
Specifically, the court barred Justice Amadi from receiving, processing, considering, or acting upon any notice, resolution, articles of impeachment, or related correspondence emanating from the lawmakers for the purpose of setting up an investigative panel. The restraint is to remain in force for a period of seven days, pending further hearing and determination of the substantive suits.
The presiding judge, Justice F. A. Fiberesima, issued the ruling while granting the motions ex parte filed by the governor and his deputy, indicating that the matter required urgent judicial intervention.
In addition, the court granted permission for substituted service of the court processes. It ordered that the interim injunctions and originating summons be served on the 1st to the 31st defendants by pasting copies at the entrance gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters. The 32nd defendant, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, is to be served through any staff member within his chambers at the High Court complex.
The ruling temporarily freezes all impeachment-related actions, setting the stage for further legal arguments as the court prepares to hear the substantive issues surrounding the dispute between the executive arm of government and the state legislature.
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