A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from entertaining or processing any correspondence from the state House of Assembly concerning the planned impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.
The order, issued on Thursday by the High Court in Oyibo Local Government Area, emanated from two ex parte applications separately filed by the embattled governor and his deputy in suits marked OYHC/7/CS/2026 and OYHC/6/CS/2026.
In his ruling, Justice F. A. Fiberesima granted interim injunctions restraining the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, and 32 other lawmakers including the Clerk of the Assembly and the Chief Judge, from initiating or advancing any step toward impeachment proceedings pending the hearing of the substantive applications.
The judge specifically prohibited Justice Amadi from receiving, transmitting, evaluating or acting upon any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or related communication from the first to the 27th defendants for seven days, particularly as it concerns empanelling a probe panel against the governor and his deputy.
Justice Fiberesima further ordered that all court processes, including the interim directives, be served by substitution on the first to 31st defendants by pasting copies at the entrance of the Assembly Quarters.
Similarly, the court directed that the Chief Judge, listed as the 32nd defendant, be served through any officer of the judiciary attached to his chambers at the State High Court complex.
The matters have been scheduled for hearing of the motion on notice on January 23, 2026.