BREAKING: Court halts Rivers Chief Judge from constituting impeachment panel against Fubara, Deputy

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any correspondence from the Rivers State House of Assembly relating to the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu.

The order was issued by the High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area, following two separate suits filed by the governor and his deputy, marked Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and Suit No. OYHC/6/CS/2026.

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

Specifically, the court barred Justice Amadi from receiving, forwarding, considering or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment, or any form of communication from the lawmakers for the purpose of constituting a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy for a period of seven days.

The ruling was delivered by Justice F. A. Fiberesima, who granted the motions ex parte filed by Fubara and Odu.

Justice Fiberesima also granted leave for the claimants to serve the interim orders and originating processes on the 1st to 31st defendants by substituted service, including pasting the documents at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters.

The court further directed that the processes be served on the 32nd defendant, the Chief Judge, through any staff member 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.