A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday restrained the Chief Judge of the state from receiving any impeachment notice from the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Clerk of the House, and 29 other lawmakers.
The court order comes amid reports that members of the State Assembly are pressing ahead with plans to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara, despite interventions by prominent individuals and organisations across the Niger Delta and other parts of the country calling for restraint and dialogue.
It was gathered that the lawmakers held a brief sitting on Friday, during which the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, reportedly directed the Chief Judge to constitute an investigative panel to examine allegations of gross misconduct leveled against the governor.
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Sources disclosed that the four lawmakers who had earlier advocated a peaceful resolution of the political crisis were present at the sitting and allegedly endorsed the latest move by the Assembly.
However, political observers argue that the impeachment process faces significant legal and procedural hurdles, noting that the court order restraining the Chief Judge could stall further action.
They contend that the Assembly’s move may be an attempt to exhaust procedural steps, despite widespread belief that the impeachment process may not succeed under the current circumstances.
The political tension in Rivers State has continued to draw national attention, with calls intensifying for constitutional order, dialogue, and respect for judicial processes to avert further escalation of the crisis.
