A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the Chief Judge of the state from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The interim order followed a move by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who on Friday formally requested the Chief Judge to constitute a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy.
The lawmakers, who said the decision was reached unanimously, had insisted the impeachment process would proceed.
However, the court’s intervention had effectively halted the process, pending further legal proceedings.
In a ruling delivered by Justice F. A. Fiberesima of the Rivers State High Court, an interim injunction was granted against the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, 32 other defendants, including the clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi.
The court specifically restrained the Chief Judge from receiving, forwarding, considering, or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment, or related communication from the defendants for the purpose of constituting an investigative panel against the governor and his deputy for a period of seven days.
The order arose from two separate suits filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, brought through a motion ex parte.
Justice Fiberesima also granted leave to the claimants to serve the interim order and all originating processes on the first to 31st defendants by pasting the documents at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters.
The court further directed that the processes meant for the 32nd defendant, the Chief Judge be served through any staff of the judiciary at the Chief Judge’s chambers within the High Court premises.
The matter was then adjourned to January 23, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
