An Oyigbo High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has adjourned indefinitely the suit instituted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, challenging the impeachment process commenced against them by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Florence Fiberesima ordered the adjournment after being informed that two separate appeals had been filed in relation to the matter. The court held that proceedings must pause to allow the Court of Appeal to first resolve the issues already before it.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 27 lawmakers, S. I. Amen (SAN), informed the court of the pending appeals and orally applied for a stay of proceedings.
The application was not opposed by counsel to the claimants, Paul Orikoro (SAN), nor by Lawrence Oko-Jaja (SAN), who represents Victor Oko-Jumbo, Orubienimigha Timothy and Sokari Goodboy, listed as other defendants in the suit.
Following submissions from all parties, Justice Fiberesima adjourned the matter sine die, pending the determination of the appeals.
The adjournment follows an earlier interim injunction granted by the same court, restraining the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, several lawmakers, the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of Rivers State from taking further action towards the impeachment of the governor and his deputy.
The injunction barred the forwarding, receipt or consideration of impeachment notices or related documents aimed at setting up an investigative panel over alleged gross misconduct.
Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon C. Amadi, has declined a request by the Rivers State House of Assembly to constitute a seven-man investigative panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Nma-Odu, citing subsisting court orders and a pending appeal.
Justice Amadi conveyed his position in a formal letter addressed to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, acknowledging receipt of two separate requests dated January 16, 2026. The requests were made pursuant to Sections 188(4) and 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), following resolutions of the House to commence impeachment proceedings.
“But,” he stated, “By the doctrine of ‘lis pendens,’ parties and the court have to await the outcome of the appeal.”
“In view of the foregoing, my hand is fettered, as there are subsisting interim orders of injunction and appeal against the said orders. I am therefore legally disabled at this point from exercising my duties under Section 188(5) of the Constitution in the instant.”
According to the Chief Judge, the Assembly’s letters were accompanied by extensive documents, including notices of allegations of gross misconduct, the Rivers State Impeachment Panel (Conduct of Investigations) Procedure, 2025, and relevant newspaper publications.
Justice Amadi disclosed that his office had earlier been served with two interim injunctions issued by the Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo on January 16, 2026. The suits—OYHC/6/CS/2026 filed by the Deputy Governor and OYHC/7/CS/2026 filed by Governor Fubara—named the Speaker and 32 others as defendants, with the Chief Judge listed as the 32nd defendant.
The interim orders expressly restrain the Chief Judge from “receiving, forwarding, considering or howsoever acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or other communication” from the House of Assembly in connection with the impeachment process for a period of seven days.
Certified true copies of the court orders were attached to the correspondence.
What you should know
The impeachment crisis in Rivers State has deepened into a major constitutional and legal battle involving the executive, legislature and judiciary.
Courts have stepped in to halt legislative actions, while appeals have effectively frozen proceedings. The doctrine of lis pendens, cited by the Chief Judge, prevents actions that could undermine issues already before an appellate court.
The situation highlights ongoing political tensions in the state and raises broader questions about the limits of legislative power, judicial restraint and constitutional safeguards in impeachment processes.
