RismadarVoice Reporters
January 22, ,2026
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has declined a request by the Rivers State House of Assembly to constitute a judicial panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
The House of Assembly had asked the Chief Judge to set up a seven-member panel to probe the governor and his deputy. However, a credible source familiar with the development disclosed on Wednesday that Justice Amadi could not accede to the request due to a subsisting court order restraining such action.
According to the source, a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had earlier issued an order specifically mentioning the Chief Judge, directing him not to take any action that would contravene the ruling.
“The state High Court has issued an order in which the name of the Chief Judge was mentioned. He cannot disobey the law; he must do exactly what the court says,” the source said.
The source further explained that while there is a possibility that the faction of the House of Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule may appeal the court ruling, the existing order remains binding until it is set aside by a higher court.
“There is a possibility that the Amaewhule group may go on appeal, but the fact remains that the Chief Judge has been ordered by the High Court not to do anything contrary. If there was no court order, the Chief Judge would have had no option but to set up the investigative panel,” the source added.
