The impeachment proceedings is now known to have been officially stalked as the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Chibuzor Simeon Amadi, has declined a request from the State House of Assembly to establish a seven-member panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
According to reports available, the Chief Judge is said to have based his decision on court orders that prohibited him from creating such a panel.
While acknowledging the request from the State Assembly for him to set up a panel to investigate the Governor and his Deputy, Justice Amadi noted that his office is also in receipt of two separate court orders of interim injunction preventing him from taking such action.
According to him, constitutionalism and the rule of law remain the bedrock of democracy, arguing that he is bound to obey the interim order until it is set aside or the suit is finally determined.
Recall, a Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, and presided over by Justice F. A. Fiberesima, had issued an order preventing the Chief Judge of Rivers State, from accepting an impeachment notice directed against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The order followed two separate suits filed by Governor Fubara and his deputy, marked Suit No. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and Suit No. OYHC/6/CS/2026.
The interim orders of injunction, had restrained the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 32 others, including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge, from taking any steps towards the impeachment process .
This is in addition to barring Justice Amadi from receiving, forwarding, considering or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or any form of communication from the 1st to the 27th defendants for the purpose of constituting a panel to investigate the alleged misconduct against the governor and his deputy for a period of seven days.
