Impeachment: Rivers High Court Adjourns Gov Fubara’s Suit Against Impeachment Indefinitely

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A Rivers state High Court sitting in Oyibo, on Friday, January 23, 2026, adjourned indefinitely proceedings  in the motion on notice filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, against their planned impeachment by the State House of Assembly.

Presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Florence Fibberesma, had, penultimate week  granted an interim injunction restraining the Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi from taking any steps in effecting the legislators’  request for the constitution of a seven-member panel to probe the impeachable offences leveled against Governor Fubara and his Deputy.

Justice Faberesima while ruling on the ex-parte application brought before the court by the embattled Governor and his Deputy, also restrained the law makers from further taking any steps towards the impeachment processes pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The adjournment of Friday’s court’ proceedings followed an oral application filed by the counsel to the legislators , seeking to stop the further proceedings , pending the hearing and determination of an appeal filed against the court’s earlier interim injunction.

Following the non-opposition of the application by the claimants’ counsel, Justice Faberesima adjourned proceedings sine die.

The Court held that there is the need to allow the appellate court enough time to hear and determine two separate appeals which have been filed by  parties before the Appeal Court.

Instructively, this development is coming on the heels of the decision of the State’s Chief not to go ahead with the constitution of the probe panel in difference to the court’s restraining order.

The Source reports that the Chief Judge ,had on through a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly Rt Hon Matins Amaewfule ,and dated January 20,2026 emphasized the need for him to obey the court’s order restraining him from setting up a seven-member panel as requested by the law makers.