An Oyigbo High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has indefinitely adjourned the suit filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, challenging the impeachment process initiated against them by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Florence Fiberesima made the decision after being informed that two separate appeals had been filed regarding the matter. The adjournment allows the Court of Appeal to first address the pending issues.
At the resumed hearing, counsel for the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, and 27 lawmakers, S.I. Amen (SAN), notified the court of the appeals and requested a stay of proceedings. The application was not opposed by the claimants’ counsel, Paul Orikoro (SAN), nor by Lawrence Oko-Jaja (SAN), representing other defendants, including Victor Oko-Jumbo, Orubienimigha Timothy, and Sokari Goodboy.
Consequently, Justice Fiberesima adjourned the matter sine die, pending the outcome of the appeals.
This development follows an earlier interim injunction granted by the same court, restraining the Speaker, several lawmakers, the Clerk of the House, and the Chief Judge of the state from taking further steps toward the impeachment of the governor and his deputy. The injunction prohibited forwarding or considering impeachment notices or documents intended to establish an investigative panel over alleged gross misconduct.
Rivers Chief Judge Declines Assembly Request
Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon C. Amadi, has refused a request by the Rivers State House of Assembly to form a seven-member panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu. He cited existing court orders and a pending appeal as reasons.
In a formal letter to Speaker Martins Amaewhule, Justice Amadi acknowledged receipt of two requests from the legislature dated January 16, 2026, which were made under Sections 188(4) and 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) following resolutions to initiate impeachment proceedings.
“By the doctrine of lis pendens, parties and the court must await the outcome of the appeal,” the letter read in part.
Justice Amadi explained that his office had already been served with two interim injunctions from the Oyigbo High Court, filed by the Deputy Governor (OYHC/6/CS/2026) and the Governor (OYHC/7/CS/2026), which restrained him from “receiving, forwarding, considering or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or other communication” from the House for seven days. Certified true copies of the orders were attached.
The Chief Judge noted that the Assembly’s requests were accompanied by documents, including the notice of allegations of gross misconduct, the Rivers State Impeachment Panel (Conduct of Investigations) Procedure, 2025, and relevant media publications. However, due to the injunctions, he stated he was legally barred from acting on them.
