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 and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
Justice Amadi based his decision on existing court orders restraining him from taking any step toward setting up such a panel, stressing that the orders remain valid and binding.
In a letter dated January 20 and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Mr Martins Amaewhule, the Chief Judge explained that his office was served with two separate court orders on January 16, 2026, barring him from receiving, processing or acting on any request relating to the formation of an investigative panel.
He noted that the subsisting orders were still in force and must be obeyed in line with constitutional principles and the rule of law.
Justice Amadi emphasised that no authority is permitted to disregard court orders, regardless of personal opinions about their correctness, adding that compliance with judicial directives is fundamental to constitutional governance.
To support his position, the Chief Judge referred to a 2007 case in Kwara State where a chief judge was faulted for setting up a panel in defiance of a restraining order, a move later nullified by the Court of Appeal.
He further pointed out that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly had already appealed the court orders at the Court of Appeal, thereby placing the matter squarely before a higher court.
According to him, the doctrine of lis pendens requires all parties to await the outcome of the appeal before taking further action on the matter.
Justice Amadi said the existence of the injunctions and the pending appeal had legally constrained him from exercising his constitutional responsibility under Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution.
“In view of the subsisting interim injunctions and the appeal arising from them, my hands are tied, and I am legally unable to act on the request at this time,” he stated.
The Chief Judge appealed to members of the House of Assembly to appreciate the legal limitations surrounding the issue and exercise understanding in view of the ongoing judicial process.
