Fubara : Court adjourns hearing on impeachment suits indefinitely

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned indefinitely two suits filed by Governor Siminialayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Ordu, challenging impeachment proceedings initiated against them by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The suits, which were heard by Justice Florence Fiberesima at the Oyibo High Court, arose from impeachment steps commenced by lawmakers last week over alleged constitutional breaches, particularly issues connected to financial appropriation.

In separate ex parte applications, Governor Fubara and Prof. Ordu sought interim injunctions restraining the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, 25 other lawmakers, and the Clerk of the Assembly from taking further action in the impeachment process.

The applicants also asked the court to prevent the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, from receiving or setting up a seven-member impeachment panel pending the determination of the substantive suits.

The court had earlier granted the interim reliefs and fixed Friday, January 23, 2026, for hearing.

However, when proceedings resumed on Thursday, counsel to the defendants, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, S.I. Amen, informed the court of plans to challenge the matter at the appellate level and orally applied for the suits to be adjourned sine die to allow the appeal process to run its course.

Counsel to the claimants, Paul Orikoro and Lawrence Oko-jaja (SAN), did not oppose the application. Justice Fiberesima consequently granted the request and adjourned the cases indefinitely.