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By Oscar Okhifo
An Oyigbo High Court in Rivers State has stalled the impeachment battle involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, adjourning indefinitely the suit challenging the impeachment process initiated by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Florence Fiberesima took the decision after the court was informed that two separate appeals had been filed in respect of the matter, making it necessary for the Court of Appeal to first determine the issues in contention.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 27 lawmakers, S.I. Amen (SAN), notified the court of the pending appeals and orally applied for a stay of proceedings.
The application for stay was not opposed by counsel to the claimants, Paul Orikoro (SAN), nor by Lawrence Oko-Jaja (SAN), who represents Victor Oko-Jumbo, Orubienimigha Timothy and Sokari Goodboy, the other defendants in the suit.
Consequently, Justice Fiberesima adjourned the matter sine die, pending the outcome of the appeals before the Court of Appeal.
The development follows an earlier interim injunction granted by the same court, restraining the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, several lawmakers, the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of the state from taking further steps toward the impeachment of the governor and his deputy.
The injunction barred the forwarding or consideration of impeachment notices or related documents for the purpose of constituting an investigative panel over allegations of gross misconduct.
Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon C. Amadi, has declined the Rivers State House of Assembly’s request to constitute a seven-man investigative panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, citing subsisting court orders and a pending appeal.
Justice Amadi conveyed his decision in a formal letter to the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, referencing two requests dated January 16, 2026, which were made pursuant to Sections 188(4) and 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He stated that by the doctrine of lis pendens, both the parties and the court must await the determination of the appeals, noting that existing interim injunctions legally restrain him from taking further action on the impeachment process.
According to the Chief Judge, his office had earlier been served with two interim injunctions issued by the Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo on January 16, 2026, which expressly bar him from receiving, forwarding, considering or acting on any impeachment-related communication from the House of Assembly pending the outcome of the appeal