Rivers Court adjourns Fubara, Deputy’s impeachment suit indefinitely over pending appeals

A Rivers State High Court has adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma-Odu, challenging the impeachment process initiated against them by the Speaker and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The case, presided over by Justice Florence Fiberesima of the Oyigbo Judicial Division sitting in Port Harcourt, was adjourned sine die on Tuesday after it was confirmed that two separate appeals arising from the matter had been formally filed at the Court of Appeal.

Justice Fiberesima held that the existence of the pending appeals made it necessary to halt further proceedings at the trial court to allow the appellate court determine the issues before it. She noted that continuing with the substantive suit could result in conflicting decisions, stressing that the interest of justice would be better served by awaiting the outcome of the appeals.

At the resumed hearing, lead counsel to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Chike-Amaewhule, and 27 other lawmakers, Mr S.I. Amen, SAN, informed the court that an appeal had been lodged against earlier rulings in the case. He consequently made an oral application seeking a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal.

The application was not opposed by counsel to the claimants, Mr Paul Oritikoro, SAN. Also supporting the application was Mr Lawrence Oko-Jaja, SAN, who represents defendants listed as numbers 28 to 30 — Oko Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy, and Orubienimigha Timothy.

In her ruling, Justice Fiberesima confirmed that proof of two separate appeals had been presented before the court, adding that proceeding with the case in the face of the appeals would be inappropriate. She therefore adjourned the matter sine die.

The suit was instituted by Governor Fubara and his deputy to challenge the impeachment moves initiated by the Speaker, 26 other members of the House, and the Clerk of the Assembly, whom they accused of acting in violation of constitutional provisions.

The development follows an earlier interim order granted by a Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo Local Government Area, which restrained the Speaker, 27 lawmakers, the Clerk of the House, and the Chief Judge of Rivers State from taking further steps in the impeachment process.

The interim injunction specifically barred the transmission of any notice of allegations, articles of impeachment, or related documents to the Chief Judge for the purpose of setting up an investigative panel, and also restrained the Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, from acting on such communications for seven days.

The legal battle marks the latest turn in the protracted political crisis in Rivers State, as impeachment moves and counter-litigation continue to heighten tensions between the executive and the legislature.