The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Chibuzor Simeon Amadi, has refused to constitute a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Professor Ngozi Odu, effectively stalling impeachment efforts by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The constitutionally mandated impeachment process had been initiated by lawmakers in early January, who unanimously passed a resolution on January 8 to probe alleged budgetary breaches and other conduct issues involving the governor and his deputy. The Assembly later reaffirmed its intent to proceed with the inquiry on January 16, 2026.
However, on January 20, Justice Amadi issued a formal letter to Speaker Martin Amaewhule, explaining that his office is legally barred from accepting or acting on any impeachment notice because of interim court injunctions obtained by both Fubara and Odu. These injunctions arising from separate suits filed in the Rivers State High Court, expressly restrain the Chief Judge from receiving or forwarding any impeachment documents until the underlying legal disputes are resolved. Justice Amadi cited the doctrine of lis pendens, which requires all parties and courts to maintain the status quo once an appeal is filed, noting that the House of Assembly has appealed the interim orders at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division. He said compliance with existing court directives is essential to uphold constitutionalism and the rule of law. The development shifts the impeachment battle into the judicial arena, underscoring the interplay between legal processes and legislative oversight in Nigeria’s political system. It also reinforces the growing legal complexity surrounding efforts by the Rivers State legislature to hold the governor and his deputy accountable during an extended period of political tension in Nigeria’s oil-rich south.
