Fubara Impeachment Drama Deepens As Rivers Court Suspends Proceedings

An Oyigbo High Court of Rivers State, sitting in Port Harcourt, has adjourned indefinitely the suit instituted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, challenging the impeachment proceedings initiated against them by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The presiding judge, Justice Florence Fiberesima, took the decision after being informed that two separate appeals had been filed in connection with the matter. She ruled that the Court of Appeal must first resolve the issues raised before the High Court could continue with further proceedings.

During the resumed hearing, counsel to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 27 lawmakers, S.I. Amen (SAN), notified the court of the pending appeals and made an oral application for a stay of proceedings.

The application was not opposed by counsel to the claimants, Paul Orikoro (SAN), nor by Lawrence Oko-Jaja (SAN), who represents Victor Oko-Jumbo, Orubienimigha Timothy and Sokari Goodboy, the other defendants in the case.

Consequently, Justice Fiberesima adjourned the suit sine die, pending the outcome of the appeals.

The decision follows an earlier interim injunction issued by the same court, which restrained the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule; some lawmakers; the Clerk of the House; and the Chief Judge of Rivers State from taking further steps towards the impeachment of the governor and his deputy.

The injunction barred the transmission, consideration or processing of impeachment notices or any related documents intended to set up an investigative panel over allegations of gross misconduct.

Rivers CJ declines Assembly’s request

Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon C. Amadi, has declined a request by the Rivers State House of Assembly to constitute a seven-member investigative panel to examine allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy.

Justice Amadi conveyed his decision in a formal letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, acknowledging receipt of two separate requests dated January 16, 2026.

The requests, made under Sections 188(4) and 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), followed resolutions of the House to commence impeachment proceedings.

In his response, the Chief Judge cited the doctrine of lis pendens, noting that both the parties and the court were required to await the outcome of the pending appeals.

“By the doctrine of lis pendens, parties and the court have to await the outcome of the appeal,” the letter stated.

He explained that due to existing interim injunctions and appeals against those orders, he was legally restrained from exercising his constitutional duties under Section 188(5).

Justice Amadi disclosed that the Assembly’s requests were accompanied by extensive documents, including notices of allegations of gross misconduct, the Rivers State Impeachment Panel (Conduct of Investigations) Procedure, 2025, and relevant newspaper publications.

However, he noted that his office had earlier been served with two interim injunctions issued by the Oyigbo Division of the Rivers State High Court on January 16, 2026.

The suits—OYHC/6/CS/2026 filed by the Deputy Governor and OYHC/7/CS/2026 filed by Governor Fubara—named the Speaker and 32 others as defendants, with the Chief Judge listed as the 32nd defendant.

According to Justice Amadi, the interim orders expressly restrained him from “receiving, forwarding, considering or in any way acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or related communication” from the House of Assembly regarding the impeachment process for a period of seven days.