By Ayo Ayodele
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has explained his decision not to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, amid ongoing impeachment proceedings.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Justice Amadi said his decision was based on subsisting court orders restraining him from taking any action on the matter.
The House of Assembly had, on January 16, requested the Chief Judge to set up a panel under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution to probe allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy. This followed the commencement of impeachment proceedings against them.
However, Governor Fubara and his deputy separately approached the Oyibo Division of the Rivers State High Court, where they obtained interim injunctions barring the Chief Judge from receiving, considering, or acting on any request or resolution from the Assembly regarding the constitution of a probe panel.
Justice Amadi, in his response dated January 20, confirmed receipt of both the Assembly’s request and the court orders. He noted that the injunctions, issued on January 16, expressly restrained him from acting on impeachment-related documents pending the determination of the suits.
He further explained that the lawmakers had appealed the interim orders and that, under the doctrine of lis pendens, all parties were required to maintain the status quo until the appeals were resolved.
According to him, the subsisting injunctions and ongoing appeals legally prevent him from exercising his constitutional duties under Section 188(5) at this time.
Justice Amadi stressed the need for strict adherence to constitutional provisions and the rule of law, urging all parties to respect court orders until they are set aside or the cases are finally determined.