A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has thrown a legal roadblock in the path of the Rivers State House of Assembly, stopping all impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.
In a swift ruling, the court barred the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any letter, resolution, or directive from the Assembly connected to the impeachment process.
The order was issued by the High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area after Governor Fubara and his deputy approached the court in two separate suits, marked Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and Suit No. OYHC/6/CS/2026.
Granting interim injunctions, the court restrained the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, along with 32 others—including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge—from taking any steps toward the impeachment.
The court specifically 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 setting up a panel to probe the alleged misconduct against the governor and his deputy, for a period of seven days.
Justice F. A. Fiberesima delivered the ruling while granting motions ex parte filed by the governor and his deputy.
The court also approved substituted service, directing that the interim orders and originating processes be pasted at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters for the 1st to the 31st defendants.
For the 32nd defendant, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, the court ordered that service be effected through any staff member of the judiciary at the Chief Judge’s Chambers within the High Court premises.
The matter was adjourned to January 23, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
