A Rivers State High Court has halted impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, barring the Chief Judge from acting on any Assembly request and throwing the state’s deepening political crisis into legal limbo.
Judicial Hammer Falls As Impeachment Plot Hits Brick Wall
Rivers State’s explosive impeachment drama has taken a dramatic legal turn after a High Court in Port Harcourt slammed the brakes on the process, effectively freezing all moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu. SKYTREND NEWS reports that the ruling has upended calculations within the State House of Assembly and sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political class, with critics calling it a bold defence of constitutional order and supporters of impeachment describing it as judicial overreach.
Court Bars Chief Judge From Impeachment Role
In a ruling that has reshaped the battlefield, the Rivers State High Court barred the Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any correspondence linked to impeachment proceedings. The order restrains him from considering requests, resolutions or articles of impeachment for a period of seven days.
The interim injunction was issued by the High Court of Oyibo Local Government Area sitting in Port Harcourt, following two suits filed separately by Governor Fubara and his deputy. According to SKYTREND NEWS findings, the court’s decision effectively blocks the constitutional step required to constitute an investigative panel, placing the impeachment process in legal suspension.
Assembly Leadership Restrained
Beyond the Chief Judge, the court also restrained the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, alongside 32 other defendants, including the Clerk of the House, from taking any steps toward impeaching the governor or his deputy.
Legal observers say the scope of the order is unusually wide, signalling the court’s intent to prevent any backdoor manoeuvres while the matter is under judicial consideration. The ruling was delivered by Justice F. A. Fiberesima, who granted the applications ex parte, citing urgency and the need to preserve the status quo.
Service By Pasting Sparks Controversy
In another dramatic twist, the court granted leave for the interim orders and originating processes to be served by pasting them at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters. The Chief Judge is to be served through any staff member at his chambers within the High Court premises.
SKYTREND NEWS learnt, this mode of service has already stirred controversy among lawmakers and legal practitioners, with some interpreting it as a symbolic assertion of judicial authority over a legislature accused of acting in haste.
Political Tension Escalates
The ruling lands amid heightened political tension in Rivers State, where impeachment threats have deepened divisions between the executive and the legislature. Supporters of Governor Fubara have hailed the judgment as a shield against what they describe as a politically motivated impeachment, while critics argue that the Assembly’s constitutional powers are being stifled.
Analysts warn that the court order could harden positions on both sides, potentially prolonging the crisis rather than resolving it. The seven day window granted by the court is already being seen as a countdown to a high stakes legal showdown.
What Happens Next
The matter has been adjourned to January 23, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice. Legal experts say the next hearing will be crucial in determining whether the interim injunction will be extended or discharged.
Until then, Rivers State remains in a fragile political balance, with governance, legislation and public confidence hanging in the balance. Observers note that how the judiciary, executive and legislature navigate the coming days could redefine power relations in the state.
For constitutional context, readers can explore impeachment procedures under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution at https://nigeria-law.org/ConstitutionOfTheFederalRepublicOfNigeria.htm and judiciary practice guidelines via the National Judicial Council at https://njc.gov.ng. More political developments are available on the SKYTREND NEWS Rivers politics desk.
