Court stops Rivers Assembly, CJ from continuing with impeachment process

A High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an interim injunction restraining the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martin Chike Amaewhule, and 32 others—including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of Rivers State—from taking further steps on the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma-Odu.

The order which was issued by Justice F.A. Fiberesima of the Oyigbo Judicial Division, followed the hearing of a motion ex parte filed by Governor Fubara and his Deputy as Claimants/Applicants.

The court in its ruling, specifically restrained the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, from receiving, forwarding, considering, or acting—howsoever—on any request, resolution, notice, articles of impeachment, or any other document or communication emanating from the 1st to the 27th Defendants.

The order of the court is for the purpose of preventing the constitution of any panel to investigate the purported allegations of misconduct against the Governor and his Deputy, pending further hearing, for a period of seven days.

Justice Fiberesima also granted leave to the Claimants/Applicants to serve the interim order, the originating processes, and all other subsequent court processes on the 1st to the 31st Defendants by substituted means, specifically by pasting same at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters, opposite the former NDDC Headquarters, Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

The court also directed that service on the 32nd Defendant, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, be effected through any staff of the Rivers State Judiciary at the Chief Judge’s Chambers within the High Court complex, Station Road, Port Harcourt. The court held that such service shall be deemed good and proper.

The interim order, based on the court document, was given under the seal of the court in Port Harcourt on Friday, January 16, 2026, and signed by Igwe John Promise (ACA), Assistant Chief Registrar (Litigation).

Justice Fiberesima thereafter adjourned the matter to January 23, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.

The development marked part of the twist in the escalating political and legal logjam surrounding the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Nma-Odu.