A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued interim orders restraining the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any correspondence from the Rivers State House of Assembly relating to proposed impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.
The orders were made by the High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area, Port Harcourt, following two separate suits instituted by the governor and his deputy, marked Suit Nos. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and OYHC/6/CS/2026.
In granting the motions ex parte, the presiding judge, Justice F. A. Fiberesima, restrained the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, and 32 other defendants—including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge—from taking any steps towards the impeachment of the governor and his deputy.
Specifically, the court ordered that Justice Amadi shall not, for a period of seven days, receive, forward, consider or act on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or other communication from the 1st to the 27th defendants for the purpose of constituting a panel to investigate allegations of misconduct against the claimants.
Justice Fiberesima further granted leave to the claimants to effect substituted service of the interim orders and originating processes on the 1st to the 31st defendants by pasting same at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters.
The court also directed that the interim orders and originating processes be served on the 32nd defendant, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, 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.
