By Nworisa Michael
The political crisis in Rivers State took a fresh legal turn on Thursday after a Rivers State High Court restrained the State House of Assembly from taking further steps to serve or process an impeachment notice against the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Chibuzor Simeon Amadi.
The order followed an ex-parte application filed by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. (Mrs.) Ngozi Nma Odu, challenging actions allegedly taken by the Speaker, Clerk, and 29 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in relation to the impeachment process.
The suit, filed at the High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt, temporarily bars the Assembly from transmitting, acting on, or further processing any impeachment notice against the Chief Judge pending the determination of the substantive matter before the court.
Court Order and Parties Involved
Court documents sighted by TalkExprex list the Deputy Governor as the claimant/applicant, while the defendants include:
i. The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly
ii. The Clerk of the House
iii. Twenty-nine members of the Assembly
The court granted interim reliefs restraining the defendants from taking steps capable of undermining the office of the Chief Judge, citing the need to preserve constitutional order and judicial independence while the matter is heard.
Legal practitioners note that ex-parte orders are temporary in nature, intended to preserve the status quo until all parties are heard. Some analysts have also pointed out that impeachment proceedings involving a Chief Judge raise constitutional questions, particularly regarding judicial hierarchy and the role of the National Judicial Council (NJC), issues expected to be addressed when the substantive case is heard.
The ruling is widely viewed as another setback for the political bloc aligned with the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, amid the ongoing power struggle in the state.
Observers say the development further strains relations between the executive and legislative arms of government, while deepening debates around separation of powers and constitutional procedure in Rivers State.
Legal analysts say the order temporarily halts any impeachment process against the Chief Judge and shifts the dispute squarely to the courts, where the legality of the Assembly’s actions will be tested.
As the crisis unfolds, attention remains on how the judiciary will navigate the matter amid political tension and public scrutiny.
TalkExprex will continue to monitor developments and provide verified updates as the case progresses.