Port Harcourt, Rivers State – The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice S. C. Amadi, has formally declined a request from the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly to set up a panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing a subsisting restraining order from a court of competent jurisdiction. In a written response to the Speaker’s letter, Justice Amadi stated that he is bound by law to obey existing court orders and cannot proceed with any action that would contravene such directives.
Justice Amadi referenced a historical precedent from Kwara State in 2007, where the then Chief Judge’s decision to constitute a panel despite a restraining order was later condemned by the Court of Appeal. In that case, _HON. DELE ABIODUN Vs. THE HON. CHIEF JUDGE OF KWARA STATE & 3 ORS. (2007) 18 NWLR 109–169_, the appellate court voided the entire impeachment process and criticized the Chief Judge’s actions, likening them to “the position of a chief priest and custodian of an oracle turning round to desecrate the oracle.” The Court of Appeal emphasized that the Chief Judge, as head of the judiciary, must uphold the laws of the land and not act in contempt of court.
By refusing to set up the panel, Justice Amadi has effectively halted the impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, at least for now, as the judiciary maintains its stance of adhering to legal processes and respecting court orders. The development has been met with mixed reactions from political stakeholders in Rivers State, with some praising the Chief Judge’s commitment to the rule of law, while others view it as a temporary setback to their political agenda.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has yet to issue an official response to the Chief Judge’s decision, and it remains unclear whether they will seek alternative legal avenues to pursue the impeachment process. Meanwhile, Governor Fubara’s administration has welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for democracy and constitutional governance.
