The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon C. Amadi, has declined a formal request by the Rivers State House of Assembly to set up an investigative panel to examine allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Nma-Odu.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, Justice Amadi explained that his decision was compelled by existing court orders and a pending appeal arising from the impeachment process.
The letter acknowledged receipt of two separate requests from the Assembly dated January 16, 2026, which were made in line with Sections 188(4) and 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to the Chief Judge, the Assembly’s resolutions sought the constitution of a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations against the governor and his deputy.
He however, stated that the principle of lis pendens applies, meaning that once a matter is before a court, all parties must maintain the status quo until the legal process is concluded.
Justice Amadi disclosed that his office had earlier been served with interim injunctions issued by the Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo on the same day the Assembly submitted its requests.
The suits were filed separately by Governor Fubara and his deputy, naming the Speaker and other members of the Assembly as defendants, with the Chief Judge also listed as a party.
The interim court orders specifically restrain the Chief Judge from acting on any impeachment-related communication from the House for a period of seven days.
Certified copies of these orders, he said, were attached to his correspondence with the legislature.
Beyond the injunctions, the Chief Judge noted that the House of Assembly itself has lodged an appeal against the interim orders at the Court of Appeal.
He stressed that once an appeal is pending, all actions related to the subject matter must be suspended until the appellate court reaches a decision.
Justice Amadi emphasised that obedience to court orders is fundamental to the rule of law, adding that no authority is permitted to act in defiance of valid judicial directives.
He cited past judicial decisions where chief judges were faulted for proceeding with impeachment panels despite subsisting restraining orders.
He noted that in light of the legal constraints, he is currently unable to perform his constitutional role under Section 188(5) of the Constitution.
The development has effectively put the impeachment move by the Rivers State House of Assembly on hold, transferring the battle from the legislature to the courts, where both the appeal and the substantive suits are expected to determine the next course of action.
