Chief Judge Of Rivers State Denies Assembly Request On Impeaching Fubara, Deputy

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Chibuzor Simeon Amadi, has declined a request from the State House of Assembly to establish a seven-member panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

Naija News reports that the Chief Judge based his decision on court orders that prohibited him from creating such a panel.

While acknowledging the request from the State Assembly for him to set up a panel to investigate the Governor and his Deputy, Justice Amadi noted that his office is also in receipt of two separate court orders of interim injunction preventing him from taking such action.

He emphasized that constitutionalism and the rule of law remain the bedrock of democracy, and he is bound to obey the interim order until it is set aside or the suit is finally determined.

Recall that the Rivers State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, in its first sitting of 2026, held on January 8, initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.

The lawmakers, at their resumed hearing on January 16, declared that the impeachment proceedings against the Governor and his Deputy would continue as planned.

The lawmakers unanimously voted in support of an investigation of the allegations of gross misconduct against Fubara and his deputy.

Based on the resolution, the legislators called on the Chief Judge of the state to set up a panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct.

However, a Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, subsequently issued an order preventing the Chief Judge of Rivers State, from accepting an impeachment notice directed against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

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

In the interim orders of injunction, 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.

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 1st to the 27th defendants for the purpose of constituting a panel to investigate the alleged misconduct against the governor and his deputy for a period of seven days.

The presiding judge, Justice F. A. Fiberesima, gave the ruling while granting motions ex parte in the two suits filed by the governor and his deputy.

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