By Charles Maduka
A high court in Oyigbo, Rivers State, has suspended indefinitely the cases filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, challenging the impeachment process started against them by the state house of assembly.
During the court sitting, S.I. Amen, lawyer to the defendants, told the court that an appeal on the same matter was already pending before a higher court.
He asked the court to stop further hearings until the appeal is decided.
Paul Erokoro, lead lawyer to the claimants, and Lawrence Oko-Jaja, lawyer to the 28th, 29th and 30th defendants, did not oppose the request.
As a result, the presiding judge, Florence Fiberesima, suspended the case indefinitely, waiting for the outcome of the appeal.
She said the decision from the appeal court would guide the court in handling the main case.
The judge also suspended the earlier ex parte order she issued, which had stopped the state chief judge from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy.
BACKGROUND
The Rivers State House of Assembly earlier began impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy.
The process started after the assembly leader, Major Jack, read out allegations of gross misconduct against the governor, supported by 26 lawmakers.
The lawmakers later passed a motion asking the chief judge to investigate the allegations against Fubara and Odu.
The accusations include misuse of the budget, failure to present the 2026 budget to the assembly, spending public funds without approval, withholding statutory funds meant for the legislature, and other actions described as gross misconduct.
After an ex parte application by the governor and his deputy, Justice Fiberesima issued an interim order stopping the chief judge from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice against them.
The Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier asked the chief judge, Simeon Amadi, to set up a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations against the governor and his deputy.
However, in a letter addressed to the speaker of the assembly, Martin Amaewhule, Amadi refused to set up the panel.
Amadi explained that his office had been served with two interim court orders which stopped him from taking any action on the impeachment process.
He added that the court orders clearly directed him not to consider or act on any request, resolution, or document related to the impeachment of the governor or deputy governor.
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