A Rivers State High Court has halted all impeachment-related actions involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, by barring the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from acting on any directive from the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The ruling was delivered by the High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area, sitting in Port Harcourt, following two separate suits filed by the governor and his deputy.
COURT’S DECISION
In its interim orders of injunction, the court restrained:
-
Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi (Chief Judge)
-
Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule
-
32 other defendants, including the Clerk of the Assembly
from taking any steps towards the impeachment process.
The court specifically barred the Chief Judge from receiving, forwarding, considering, or acting on:
-
Any impeachment request
-
Assembly resolutions
-
Articles of impeachment
-
Any related correspondence
for a period of seven days.
SUITS AND LEGAL BASIS
The orders followed motions ex parte filed in:
-
Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026 (Governor Fubara)
-
Suit No. OYHC/6/CS/2026 (Deputy Governor)
The presiding judge, Justice F. A. Fiberesima granted the applications and approved substituted service of court processes.
-
Documents are to be pasted at the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters
-
Service on the Chief Judge is to be effected through any judicial staff at his chambers
NEXT COURT DATE
The case was adjourned to January 23, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
THE IMPEACHMENT CRISIS
The impeachment saga began last week when the Rivers State House of Assembly initiated proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy.
The move followed the reading of gross misconduct allegations by Major Jack, a leader of the Assembly. The charges were reportedly signed by 26 lawmakers.
Political tension has since escalated, reflecting long-standing rifts between the executive and legislature in the state.
POLITICAL CONTEXT
Most lawmakers backing the impeachment are believed to be loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Wike has openly opposed Fubara’s re-election bid, accusing the governor of breaching a peace agreement signed before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lifted the emergency rule previously imposed on Rivers State.
WHY THIS MATTERS
-
Temporarily halts impeachment machinery
-
Puts the judiciary at the centre of Rivers’ political crisis
-
Signals a likely prolonged legal and political battle
