Court lifts restraint on Rivers CJ, adjourns Fubara impeachment suit indefinitely

A Rivers State High Court in Oyigbo has put the impeachment challenge filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Odu on hold indefinitely, as the matter awaits the outcome of an appeal.

During Friday’s proceedings, counsel for the defendants, S.I. Amen, informed the court that an appeal had been filed on the same issue and urged the court to suspend further hearings until the appeal is determined.

The application was not contested by Paul Erokoro, lead counsel to the claimants, or Lawrence Oko-Jaja, counsel to the 28th, 29th and 30th defendants.

In response, Justice Florence Fiberesima adjourned the suit indefinitely, stating that the appellate court’s decision would be crucial in guiding the substantive case.

The judge also suspended the ex parte order she issued on January 16, which had barred the Chief Judge of Rivers State from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy.

The impeachment process began on January 8 when the Rivers State House of Assembly initiated proceedings against Fubara and Odu, after Major Jack, the leader of the Assembly, read allegations of gross misconduct.

The allegations, supported by 26 lawmakers, include budgetary mismanagement, failure to present the 2026 appropriation bill to the House, unauthorised spending of public funds, withholding of statutory allocations to the legislature, and other actions alleged to constitute gross misconduct.

On January 16, the Assembly passed a resolution requesting Chief Judge Simeon Amadi to set up a seven-member panel to probe the allegations.

Following an ex parte application by the governor and his deputy, Justice Fiberesima issued an interim order restraining the Chief Judge from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice.

However, in a letter dated January 20, 2026, addressed to Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the Chief Judge declined to establish the panel, citing the interim court orders received on January 16.

Amadi explained that the orders prevented him from acting on any impeachment-related request or resolution, effectively barring him from initiating the investigation process.