In a significant legal twist to Rivers State's ongoing political turmoil, the High Court sitting in Oyigbo Local Government Area has stepped in to temporarily halt the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma-Odu.
Court Order Restrains Assembly and Chief Judge
The court, presided over by Justice Florence Fiberesima, granted an interim injunction on Monday, January 16, 2026. The order effectively puts a brake on all actions related to the impeachment process for a period of seven days.
The ruling specifically restrains the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, along with thirty-two other parties. This list includes the Clerk of the House and, crucially, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi.
Justice Fiberesima barred the Chief Judge from receiving, forwarding, considering, or acting on any impeachment request or resolution from the Assembly. This prohibition is to prevent the constitution of an investigative panel until the court matter is determined.
Legal Maneuvers and Service of Processes
The injunction was granted following the hearing of two separate ex parte motions filed by Governor Fubara and his deputy. The suits are marked OYHC/7/CS/2026 and OYHC/6/CS/2026.
In a notable directive, the court ordered that the interim orders and originating processes be served on the first thirty-one defendants by pasting them at the gate of the Rivers State Assembly quarters. For the Chief Judge, listed as the thirty-second defendant, the court directed service through any staff member at his chambers within the premises.
The matter has been adjourned to January 23, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice. This move shifts the intense political battle from the arena of power plays into the domain of courtroom litigation.
Background: Assembly's Push for Impeachment
The court's intervention comes just a day after the Rivers State House of Assembly, on Friday, January 16, called on the Chief Judge to set up a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy.
Lawmakers, addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, accused Governor Fubara of violating the 1999 Constitution and using blackmail. The Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, stated that Fubara lacked the trust needed to resolve the state's crisis.
They insisted the Assembly was left with no choice but to invoke its legislative powers, alleging intimidation by both Fubara and Odu. Despite the hardline stance, the lawmakers thanked President Bola Tinubu for his intervention and called on Speaker Amaewhule to reconvene the House.
This impeachment process, initiated weeks ago, has dramatically heightened political tensions in the oil-rich state, with the latest court order introducing a new layer of legal complexity to the standoff.
