A Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyibo Local Government Area, Port Harcourt, has barred the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, from receiving or acting on any communication from the Rivers State House of Assembly relating to moves to investigate and impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, legal records show.
The interim order, granted on Friday, January 16, 2026, restrains the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, the Clerk of the House, the Chief Judge and 32 other defendants from taking further action in the impeachment process, including constituting a seven-member investigative panel, pending further court proceedings.
The injunction followed two separate suits filed by Governor Fubara and his deputy with the Rivers State High Court, marked Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and OYHC/6/CS/2026, through motions ex parte.
In granting the orders, Justice F. A. Fiberesima specifically barred the Chief Judge from receiving, forwarding, considering or acting on any request, resolution, impeachment notice or related documents from members of the House for a period of seven days.
The court also authorised the claimants — the governor and his deputy — to serve the interim orders and originating processes on the first to 31st defendants by pasting them at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters.
For the 32nd defendant, the Chief Judge, service is to be effected through any staff member of the judiciary at his chambers.
The injunction effectively halts further steps in the impeachment process while the legal challenge continues. The matter has been adjourned to January 23, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
The Assembly had earlier written to the Chief Judge requesting the constitution of a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara and Odu, as required under Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The lawmakers said they were prepared to proceed with impeachment after preliminary steps.
Political analysts say the court’s intervention shifts the unfolding Rivers State political crisis into the legal arena, highlighting tensions between the legislature’s impeachment efforts and executive-initiated legal challenges.
Observers note that the coming week’s court hearing could be decisive in determining the pace of impeachment proceedings and the limits of judicial intervention in politically sensitive matters.
The High Court will hear the substantive motion on January 23, 2026. Both parties are expected to present arguments on the legality of halting the impeachment process pending further court rulings.
