A Rivers State High Court has intervened in the escalating political crisis in the state, issuing an interim injunction that temporarily halts the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Nma-Odu. The court’s ruling, delivered in Port Harcourt, restrains the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 32 other defendants, including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of Rivers State, from taking further action on the impeachment process.
The order, which is to last for seven days, specifically bars the Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, from receiving or acting on any impeachment-related documents from the Assembly. The injunction was granted by Justice Florence Fiberesima following a motion ex parte filed by Governor Fubara and his deputy. The court also granted leave to serve the interim order and other originating processes on the defendants by pasting them at the gate of the Rivers State Assembly quarters.
The impeachment process began after the Rivers State House of Assembly accused Governor Fubara and his deputy of gross misconduct, citing alleged infringement of the 1999 Constitution. The lawmakers claimed that the governor had resorted to blackmail and intimidation, and that they had no choice but to initiate impeachment proceedings. The crisis has heightened political tension in the state, with the lawmakers accusing the governor of neglecting his duties.
The court’s intervention has shifted the battle from the political arena to the courtroom, with the matter adjourned to January 23, 2026, for a hearing on the motion on notice. The development comes after President Bola Tinubu waded into the crisis, with the lawmakers expressing gratitude for his intervention. The impeachment process has sparked concerns about the stability of the state government, with the court’s ruling providing a temporary reprieve for the embattled governor and his deputy.
The situation in Rivers State remains volatile, with the outcome of the court case likely to have significant implications for the state’s political landscape. As the legal battle unfolds, the people of Rivers State await the next developments in the crisis, which has raised questions about the balance of power between the executive and legislative arms of government. The court’s decision to intervene in the impeachment process highlights the importance of the judiciary in resolving political disputes and upholding the rule of law.
