Court Prohibits Rivers CJ from Forming Panel to Investigate Fubara

The Rivers State High Court, located in Port Harcourt, has issued a prohibition against the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, preventing him from engaging with a letter from the Rivers State House of Assembly that seeks to establish a panel for probing accusations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.

The directive was handed down by the High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area, which convened in Port Harcourt, in response to two distinct lawsuits initiated by both the governor and his deputy. These cases are identified as Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and Suit No. OYHC/6/CS/2026.

In its interim injunctions, the court forbade the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, along with 32 other individuals, including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge, from progressing with any action related to the impeachment procedure.

Furthermore, the court explicitly prohibited Justice Amadi from receiving, forwarding, reviewing, or acting on any communications related to impeachment requests or decisions from the first to the twenty-seventh defendants. This order will remain in effect for a period of seven days.

The ruling was issued by the presiding judge, Justice F. A. Fiberesima, while approving motions presented ex parte in the lawsuits filed by Governor Fubara and Prof. Odu.

Justice Fiberesima also approved a request from the claimants/applicants, allowing them to serve the interim orders and initial legal documents to defendants numbered one to thirty-one by posting them at the entrance of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters.

The court further mandated that documents concerning the interim orders and originating proceedings be served to the thirty-second defendant, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, through any personnel of the judiciary available at the Chief Judge’s Chambers located within the High Court grounds.

However, the judge scheduled the next session for January 23, 2026, to discuss the motion on notice.