By Isoken Oduware
There is utter confusion in Rivers State following the decision of the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, to officially acknowledge the receipt of notices of alleged gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu.
This acknowledgement, in spite of an order by a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt barring him from receiving or acting on the letter from the Rivers State House of Assembly to constitute a panel to investigate the accusation of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy, is generating fresh rumpus in the troubled state.
According to reliable sources within the corridors of power in the state, the governor and his allies are greatly worried by the development as there are now fears that the judiciary may have been infiltrated by anti Fubara forces. “Not a few concerned stakeholders are now wondering why the Chief Judge will openly go against a court order at a crucial moment as this,” a source said.
The now controversial acknowledgement was confirmed on Friday by the Rivers State House of Assembly hours after the State High Court sitting in Oyigbo issued an order halting further steps in the impeachment process against the governor and his deputy.
Spokesperson of the Assembly who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Hon. Dr. Enemi Alabo George, confirmed the receipt of the notice by the Chief Judge after a plenary proceedings to mark the 60th legislative day of the third Session of the Tenth Rivers State House of Assembly.
He said the House resolved to investigate the allegations against Governor Fubara and his deputy. Consequently, the Speaker of the House was mandated to forward letters to the Chief Judge of Rivers State pursuant to Section 188(5) of the Constitution, requesting the constitution of an investigative panel.
According to Alabo, the Chief Judge received the correspondence I forming him of the impeachment proceedings and officially acknowledged receiving the correspondence.
This development is contrary to expectations following an interim injunction stopping moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, by a Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Port Harcourt on Friday.
The court restrained the Speaker of the House, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, the Clerk of the Assembly, and other defendants from sending any correspondence, resolution, or document to the Chief Judge of the state for the purpose of constituting a panel to investigate allegations of misconduct against the governor and his deputy.
Justice F. A. Fiberesima, who presided over the matter, also barred the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, from receiving, forwarding, considering, or acting on any impeachment-related request from the first to the 27th defendants for a period of seven days.
The ruling followed a motion ex parte filed in two separate suits by Governor Fubara and his deputy. The court granted leave to the claimants to serve the interim order and originating processes in Suit Nos. OYHC/7/CS/2026 and OYHC/6/CS/2026, as well as all subsequent court documents, on the first to the 31st defendants by substituted means, specifically at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters.
Justice Fiberesima further directed that the court processes be served on the 32nd defendant, the Chief Judge of the state, through any staff of the judiciary at his chambers within the High Court premises. The court subsequently adjourned the matter to January 23, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
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