Olayiwola Matthew
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an order restraining the chief judge of the state from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice directed at Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The order followed two separate suits filed by Fubara and Odu before the State High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area, marked Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and Suit No. OYHC/6/CS/2026.
In interim injunctive reliefs, the court barred Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the assembly, alongside 32 other defendants, including the clerk of the house from taking further steps linked to the impeachment process.
The court specifically prohibited the chief judge from receiving, transmitting, considering or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or other communication from the 1st to the 27th defendants aimed at setting up a panel to probe the alleged misconduct of the governor and his deputy for a period of seven days.
F. A. Fiberesima, the presiding judge, issued the orders while granting ex parte motions filed by the governor and his deputy.
The court also granted permission for the interim orders and originating processes to be served on the 1st to the 31st defendants by pasting them at the entrance of the Rivers State House Of Assembly quarters.
It further directed that the same court processes be served on the 32nd defendant, the chief judge of Rivers, through any judicial staff 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.