Rivers State House of Assembly has chosen to openly defy a court order, pressing forward with its determined bid to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The move sets the stage for a constitutional confrontation, pitting the legislative arm against the judiciary in a battle that has thrown the oil-rich state into another round of political standoff.
The crisis reached a boiling point when a Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo issued a temporary restraining order. Presided over by Justice Fiberesima, the court directed the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly, and its clerk to halt all actions related to the impeachment process for a period of seven days.
The order specifically restrained the Chief Judge from receiving, forwarding, or acting upon any impeachment request from the lawmakers, pending the determination of a substantive suit filed by Governor Fubara and his deputy.
This followed an earlier notice by the Assembly to begin the process of impeachment against Fubara and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct.
Undeterred, the Assembly convened and took decisive steps that directly contravened the court’s injunction.
In a letter signed by Speaker Martin Amaewhule and read during a plenary session, the legislators formally requested the Chief Judge to constitute a seven-member investigative panel.
The request is a mandatory procedural step under Section 188(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, which moves an impeachment motion from the legislature to the judiciary for investigation of the allegations. By taking this action, the Assembly has not only ignored the court’s restraint but has actively sought to advance the process it was ordered to pause.
The lawmakers’ resolve appears absolute. Addressing journalists, the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, described Governor Fubara as “incorrigible” and stated that impeachment was now “unavoidable.” He asserted that the process remained the most viable constitutional option to resolve the political impasse, appealing to the public to understand their position. This public insistence signals a calculated risk, challenging the authority of the court and testing the boundaries of constitutional power.
Adding to the complexity, four lawmakers who had previously publicly urged caution and dialogue have now reversed their stance. Sylvanus Nwankwo, Peter Abbey, Barile Nwakoh, and Emilia Amadi, who had earlier called for the impeachment move to be withdrawn, have realigned with the pro-impeachment bloc.
Their U-turn consolidates the position of the Assembly, suggesting a unified front of 27 members committed to seeing the process through. This shift underscores the intense political pressure and the hardening of positions within the state legislature.
From the government’s quarter, the response has been one of dismissal and defiance. Darlington Orji, the Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Governor, insisted the impeachment process was fundamentally flawed and would not succeed. In a television interview, he claimed that Governor Fubara had not been formally served any impeachment notice and argued there was no factual basis for the allegations of gross misconduct, which include claims of financial misappropriation and obstruction of the Assembly.
Orji further attempted to rebut the Assembly’s grievances point by point. He denied that the governor had made any appointments requiring legislative screening without due process and challenged narratives about financial disputes. Notably, he alleged that each lawmaker had already received significant funds for constituency projects and new official vehicles, implying their actions were not motivated by a lack of state support.
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