A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued an interim order restraining the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any directive from the Rivers State House of Assembly regarding moves to impeach Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.

The ruling, delivered by Justice F.A. Fiberesima of the High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area, came in two separate suits filed by Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu, marked OYHC/7CS/2026 and OYHC/6CS/2026.

Meanwhile, the House of Assembly have written the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Simeon Amadi, requesting him to constitute a 7-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct level against the Governor of the state, Sir Siminialayi Fubara and his deputy Prof Ngozi Nma Odu.
The letter came when the house resumed its plenary on Friday at the Conference within with the legislative complex on Aba-Port Harcourt express way.
The house in a letter signed by its Speaker, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, said the move was in pursuant to Secton 188, subsection 5, of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
The letter read: “I write to request that you appoint a panel of seven (7) persons to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against His Excellency, Sir Siminalaye Fubara GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State pursuant to section 188(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

However, in the latest development, the court restrained the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, alongside thirty-two others including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge, from “receiving, forwarding, considering, and/or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment, or other communication” aimed at constituting a panel to investigate allegations of misconduct against the governor and his deputy. The injunction is to last for seven days.
Justice Fiberesima emphasized that the interim measure was necessary to preserve the status quo pending further hearing.

He stated: “The Chief Judge of Rivers State is hereby restrained from receiving or acting upon any impeachment-related communication from the Assembly for the purpose of constituting an investigative panel against the Governor and his Deputy.”

The court further granted leave to the claimants to serve the interim order and originating processes on the first to thirty-one defendants at the gate of the Rivers State Assembly quarters. It also directed that the Chief Judge, listed as the 32nd defendant, be served through any staff of the judiciary at his chambers within the High Court premises.
Governor Fubara and his deputy had approached the court seeking protection against what they described as “unconstitutional attempts” by the Assembly to remove them from office.

Their counsel argued that the Assembly’s actions were politically motivated and posed a threat to governance in the state.
Justice Fiberesima adjourned the matter to January 23, 2026, for hearing of the substantive motion.