Court Blocks Rivers Chief Judge From Acting on Fubara Impeachment Notice

Court Blocks Rivers Chief Judge From Acting on Fubara Impeachment Notice
Interim injunction halts Assembly steps toward impeachment for seven days
Case adjourned to January 23 for motion hearing

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the order followed earlier moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly directing the Chief Judge to constitute a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy.

The ruling was delivered by the High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area, sitting in Port Harcourt, after Governor Fubara and his deputy filed two separate suits marked OYHC 7 CS 2026 and OYHC 6 CS 2026.

In the interim injunctions, the court restrained the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 32 others, including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge, from taking any steps towards the impeachment process.

The court specifically barred Justice Amadi from receiving, forwarding, considering or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or any form of communication from the first to the 27th defendants. This restriction applies to any attempt to constitute a panel to investigate the alleged misconduct against the governor and his deputy for a period of seven days.

Justice F A Fiberesima, who presided over the matter, granted the interim orders while ruling on motions filed ex parte by the governor and his deputy.

The court also granted leave for the claimants to serve the interim orders and originating processes on the first to the 31st defendants by pasting the documents at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters.

In addition, the court directed that the interim orders and originating processes be served on the 32nd defendant, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, through any staff member of the judiciary at the Chief Judge’s Chambers within the High Court premises.

The matter was adjourned to January 23, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.

Rivers Chief Judge on Fubara Impeachment

The ruling marks a significant legal intervention in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, temporarily halting the impeachment process while the court considers the substantive issues raised by the governor and his deputy.