The Rivers State House of Assembly has directed the Chief Judge of the state, the Honourable Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, to set up a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.”

​The lawmakers made the call on Friday via a unanimous vote, while insisting on continuing the impeachment proceedings initiated against the governor.

Martins Amaewhule, speaker of the house, who presided over the session, directed the clerk to formally write to the chief judge within the stipulated timeframe to constitute a seven-member investigative panel to examine the claims.

​Prior to this development, they held a press conference in Port Harcourt where they accused Fubara of blackmail, stating that he lacked the trust required to resolve the crisis rocking the South-South state.

​They also further accused the governor of violating the 1999 Constitution, asserting that the parliament was left with no choice but to exercise its legislative powers to remove him from office.

​The lawmakers further claimed that the governor and his deputy had resorted to intimidating the parliament.

​However, they thanked President Bola Tinubu for intervening in the political crisis within the oil-rich state.

​The members also called on the Speaker to reconvene the House.