The Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday confirmed that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, has received and acknowledged impeachment-related correspondence from lawmakers concerning Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, despite a recent court injunction restraining impeachment actions.
In an official statement, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Hon. Enemi George, said the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, had forwarded letters and supporting documents to the chief judge following a resolution during plenary to commence a probe into alleged misconduct by the state’s executive leadership. According to George, all relevant documentation, including notices outlining the allegations, were attached and formally acknowledged by the Chief Judge.
Earlier in the week, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt (Oyigbo Local Government Area) issued an interim injunction restraining the Assembly and the Chief Judge from proceeding with any impeachment-related action against Fubara and Odu. The order followed separate suits filed by the governor and his deputy, and bars the Chief Judge from receiving, considering, forwarding, or acting on impeachment requests or related correspondence for a period of seven days.
Justice Florence Fiberesima granted the motion ex parte, ordering that the injunction remain in force pending further hearing, which is scheduled for January 23, 2026. The court also granted substituted service of the order on the defendants, including pasting the documents at the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters and serving the Chief Judge through judiciary staff at his chambers.
The impeachment process was launched by the House on January 8, with lawmakers accusing Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu of gross misconduct, including budgetary impropriety, failure to present the 2026 appropriation bill, unauthorised expenditures, and withholding statutory allocations from the legislature.
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This development marks yet another chapter in a prolonged political standoff in Rivers State, where impeachment efforts against the governor have been ongoing since his election in 2023. The latest move by the legislature reflects broader tensions between the state’s executive and legislative arms.
In his statement, Hon. Enemi George insisted that the Assembly’s actions are grounded in constitutional provisions, specifically citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which governs the procedure for investigating allegations of misconduct against state executives. The lawmaker urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding amid heightened public interest.
The House has maintained that every step taken so far has been within constitutional limits, emphasising its commitment to due process and the rule of law, even as the legal tussle unfolds.
