Rivers crisis : Court stops impeachment proceedings against Fubara, deputy

A Port Harcourt High Court has issued an interim injunction preventing the Chief Judge of Rivers State from receiving or acting on an impeachment notice filed against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The injunction comes after the Rivers State House of Assembly requested that the Chief Judge establish a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy

The interim order was issued by Florence Fiberesima, the presiding judge, after two separate suits were filed by the governor and his deputy. The suits are marked OYHC/7/CS/2026 and OYHC/6/CS/2026.

In her ruling, Fiberesima restrained the chief judge from receiving, forwarding, considering or acting on any request, resolution or articles of impeachment submitted by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“That an Interim Injunction is hereby made restraining the 32h Defendant i.e. The Hon Chief Judge of Rivers State from receiving, forwarding. considering and/or howsoever acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachmentOr other documents or communication from the 1-27th and 31st Defendants for the purpose of constituting a panel to investigate the purported allegations of misconduet against the Clarmant/Applicant for seven days,” the order reads.

The judge further directed that court processes and the order be served on the defendants by pasting them at the gate of the Rivers state house of assembly and by serving staff at the chief judge’s chambers.

The matter was adjourned to January 23, 2026, for the hearing of the motion.

The suit lists the speaker and members of the Rivers state house of assembly as defendants, along with the clerk of the assembly and the chief judge of Rivers state.