Rivers Chief Judge rejects Assembly’s request to commence impeachment probe against Fubara
Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon C. Amadi, has rejected a request by the Rivers State House of Assembly to constitute a seven-man investigative panel to probe alleged gross misconduct by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Nma-Odu.
Justice Amadi who cited subsisting court orders and a pending appeal as reason for declining the request, has by his move stalled the impeachment process initiated by the lawmakers, pending the outcome of the suits before the Court of Appeal and the High Court.
The Chief Judge stated his position in a formal letter addressed to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, wherein he acknowledged receipt of two separate requests from the legislature.
Justice Amadi noted in his letter: “In view of the foregoing, my hand is fettered, as there are subsisting interim orders of injunction and appeal against the said orders. I am therefore legally disabled at this point from exercising my duties under Section 188(5) of the Constitution in the instant.”
While the Assembly’s requests were accompanied by extensive documentations, the Chief judge however stated that his office had earlier been served with two interim injunctions issued by the Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo on January 16, 2026.
The suits which were filed by Governor Fubara and his Deputy listed the Speaker and 32 others, including the Chief Judge as defendants.
Based on the interim orders, the Chief Judge was restrained from “receiving, forwarding, considering or howsoever acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or other communication” from the House of Assembly in relation to the impeachment process within a seven-day time frame.
Justice Amadi also stated that the House itself has filed an appeal against the interim orders at the Court of Appeal, stating that once a matter is before a higher court, all parties are to maintain the status quo while it is being determined.
