JUDICIARY HALTS RIVERS CJ FROM IMPLEMENTING ASSEMBLY’S IMPEACHMENT ORDER

January 16, 2026

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By: Fasasi Hammad

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has barred the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any correspondence from the Rivers State House of Assembly regarding moves to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.

The order, issued by the High Court in Oyibo Local Government Area, followed two separate suits filed by the governor and his deputy, marked Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and Suit No. OYHC/6/CS/2026.

In the interim injunctions, the court also restrained the Speaker of the House, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, and 32 others—including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge—from taking any steps toward the impeachment process. Justice Amadi was specifically barred from receiving, forwarding, considering, or acting on any impeachment-related communication from the 1st to 27th defendants for seven days.

Presiding Judge Justice F. A. Fiberesima granted the ruling ex parte and allowed the claimants to serve the interim orders and originating processes on the 1st to 31st defendants by posting them at the gate of the House of Assembly Quarters. The 32nd defendant, the Chief Judge, is to be served through any staff member at the Chief Judge’s Chambers within the High Court premises.

The case has been adjourned to January 23, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.