Relief for Fubara as court stops Rivers CJ from accepting impeachment notice

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu got temporary relief from the ongoing plot by the State House of Assembly to impeach them on Friday.

The temporary relief was from the state high court sitting in Port Harcourt which issued an interim order restraining the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Simeon Amadi from receiving any notice to impeach Fubara and Odu

The court presided by Justice F. A Fiberesima restrained restrained the chief judge from receiving, forwarding, considering or acting on any request concerning the governor’s impeachment,

Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu had gone to court seeking to stop the ongoing impeachment process by the state assembly.

The court also granted Fubara and Odu the leave to serve the interim order and the originating processes on the assembly by posting it on the gate of the Rivers State Assembly quarters.

Meanwhile the court has adjourned further proceedings on the matter to Jan. 23

The restraining order against the Chief Judge was issued few hours after members of the Rivers Assembly on Friday unanimously voted to impeach Fubara and his deputy

Consequently, the lawmakers had agreed to write the the chief judge to constitute a investigation panel on the allegations of gross misconduct against Fubara and his deputy.

In a statement, the Speaker of the House, Martins Chike Amaewhule confirmed that the assembly formally requested the CJ to establish an investigative panel in line with constitutional provisions.