Court stops chief judge from acting on Fubara impeachment notice

A high court in Rivers State has issued an interim order restraining the chief judge of the state, Simone Chibuzor-Amadi, from acting on any resolution seeking the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
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Ruling on a motion ex parte filed by Fubara and the state attorney-general, Jumbo Stephen, the high court also restrained the chief judge and clerk of the state assembly from dealing with Martin Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers.

Amaewhule is the speaker of the faction of the legislature loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Other defendants include Victor Oko-Jumbo, factional speaker; Sokari Goodboy; Orubienimigha Anthony, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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Additionally, the court ordered all parties involved to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction.

“That an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 31st and 32nd defendants from dealing or howsoever relating with the 1st-27th defendants as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and from receiving, forwarding, or howsoever acting on any resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein,” the judge ruled.

“That the parties to this suit are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante litem in this suit as of 5th July 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.
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“An order is hereby made for substituted service of the originating and other processes in this suit on the 1st-30th defendants by pasting the same at quarters opposite former NDDC headquarters, off Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.”

The judge fixed July 15, 2024, for the motion on notice for the interlocutory injunction.

On May 30, Charles Wali, the high court judge, restrained the lawmakers in Amaewhule’s faction from holding legislative sittings anywhere, including within the legislative quarters.

However, the high court’s order was overturned by the court of appeal on July 4, positing that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit, as such matters can only be heard and determined before a federal high court.

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