PORT HARCOURT — The political standoff in Rivers State escalated on Friday after a State High Court sitting in Oyigbo issued an interim order restraining the Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any communication from the Rivers State House of Assembly connected to impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.
The court’s ruling came hours after the Assembly, upon resuming plenary, unanimously voted to advance the impeachment process and formally wrote the Chief Judge requesting the constitution of a seven-member investigative panel under Section 188(5) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended). The letter, signed by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, said the House had resolved to have the allegations of “gross misconduct” investigated in line with constitutional procedure.
In the suit(s) filed by Fubara and Odu, Justice F.A. Fiberesima granted interim relief restraining the Speaker, the Clerk and other defendants—alongside the Chief Judge—from “receiving, forwarding, considering and/or acting” on any impeachment-related request, resolution or articles aimed at setting up a panel. The judge said the interim measure, which is to last seven days, was necessary to preserve the status quo pending further proceedings.
The court also granted leave for substituted service on Assembly-related defendants by pasting the processes at the gate of the Assembly quarters, and directed that the Chief Judge be served through staff at his chambers within the High Court premises. The substantive motion was adjourned to January 23, 2026 for hearing.
The impeachment push stems from a notice issued by lawmakers on January 8, 2026, citing alleged gross misconduct including extra-budgetary spending exceeding ₦800 billion without legislative approval, withholding statutory funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, demolition of the Assembly complex, and alleged defiance of Supreme Court rulings touching on legislative autonomy.
Meanwhile, lawmakers defending their insistence on impeachment accused the governor of working “underground” to induce constituents to initiate recall efforts against Assembly members. One legislator, Looloo Opuende (Akuku Toru Constituency II), claimed constituents were being paid to “withdraw us from the Assembly,” arguing that impeachment is a constitutional process that should proceed. A senior aide to the governor, Darlington Oji, said he was “not aware” of the allegation when contacted, according to reports.
