Rivers Crisis: Group Backs Chief Judge Over Refusal To Probe Fubara

A pro-democracy advocacy group, the Coalition for Democratic Accountability and Rule of Law, has backed the decision of the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, to decline the constitution of a judicial panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The group described the chief judge’s action as lawful and constitutionally sound, insisting that it was compelled by subsisting interim court orders and a pending appeal before the Court of Appeal.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National President, Barrister Ibrahim Lawal Abdulkareem, the coalition said Justice Amadi acted in strict compliance with the rule of law when he explained that his hands were “fettered” by court orders restraining him from taking any step connected to impeachment proceedings.

“Justice Amadi did exactly what the Constitution and judicial ethics demand. Once a court of competent jurisdiction issues an order, every individual and institution, including the legislature and the chief judge himself, is bound by it,” Abdulkareem said.

The group noted that the interim injunctions restraining the chief judge from receiving, considering or acting on impeachment-related requests left him with no lawful discretion under Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution.

According to CDARL, any attempt to proceed in spite of the court orders would have amounted to judicial recklessness and a violation of constitutional discipline.

The coalition also defended the chief judge’s reliance on the doctrine of lis pendens, which bars parties from taking steps that could prejudice matters pending before a higher court.

“When a matter is before a higher court, all parties are required to maintain the status quo. The chief judge’s refusal to act while an appeal is pending is not obstruction; it is constitutional discipline,” Abdulkareem said.

Warning to Rivers Assembly

CDARL warned that any attempt by the Rivers State House of Assembly to push ahead with impeachment proceedings in defiance of the interim injunctions could amount to an assault on judicial authority and trigger a constitutional crisis.

“The impeachment of a sitting governor is one of the gravest powers entrusted to a legislature. It is not a political shortcut and certainly not a process that can be pursued in defiance of court orders,” the group said.

The coalition stressed that the ongoing political tension in Rivers State could only be resolved through strict adherence to judicial directives.

“Lawmakers weaken democracy when they treat court orders as inconveniences to be bypassed. The judiciary is not an obstacle to governance; it is the stabilising referee in moments of institutional conflict,” Abdulkareem stated.

The group cautioned that constitutional breakdowns often begin with the casual disregard of interim court orders.

“When elected officials begin to pick and choose which court orders to obey, the rule of law collapses. What follows is institutional paralysis, loss of public confidence and prolonged instability,” the statement warned.

CDARL urged the Rivers Assembly to heed the chief judge’s call for restraint and await the outcome of the appeal at the Court of Appeal before taking further action.

“The chief judge’s request for understanding was not a plea; it was a reminder that no arm of government is above the law. Constitutional patience is not weakness; it is the price of democratic survival,” Abdulkareem said.

‘Not about Fubara’

The coalition stressed that its intervention was not aimed at defending any political officeholder but at protecting judicial independence and constitutional order.

“This is not about Governor Fubara or any individual. It is about protecting the integrity of institutions. Today, it is the judiciary being pressured; tomorrow, it could be the legislature itself,” the group stated.

It also called on political parties, national leaders and influential actors to avoid encouraging actions that could undermine the authority of the courts.

“The true test of democracy is obedience to the law when it is inconvenient. Rivers State must choose legality over expediency,” the group said.