*Adjourns Fubara’s Anti-Impeachment Suit Indefinitely
A RIVERS State High Court in Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, on Friday, January 23, suspended its earlier order restraining the Chief Judge from constituting a probe panel to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct levelled against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The court also adjourned their suits challenging and seeking to stop the impeachment process initiated against them by state House of Assembly indefinitely.
At the proceedings on Friday, Counsel to the defendants in the suit, S.I. Amen, informed the court of an appeal filed by his clients on the same subject and prayed the court to suspend further hearing, pending the determination of the appeal.
Lead Counsel to the claimants, Paul Erokoro, and Counsel to the 28th, 29th and 30th defendants,Lawrence Oko-Jaja, did not oppose the oral application.
Consequently, the presiding Judge, Justice Florence Fiberesima, adjourned indefinitely, pending the outcome of the appeal, holding that the outcome of the appeal will help the court determine the substantive suit before it.
Justice Fiberesima also suspended the ex parte order she granted on January 16, restraining the state Chief Judge from receiving or acting on any impeachment notice against Fubara and Odu.
Recall that the Assembly, on January 8, commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, following the allegations read out by the Leader of the House, Major Jack, which was endorsed by the 26 members present.
On January 16, the lawmakers followed up by approving a motion requesting the Chief Judge to set up a panel to probe the allegations, which include budgetary impropriety, failure to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Assembly, unauthorised expenditure of public funds, withholding of statutory allocations to the legislature and other acts deemed to constitute gross misconduct.
