A Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo Local Government Area has intervened in the escalating political crisis in the state, issuing an interim injunction temporarily halting further action on the impeachment process against Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Dr. Ngozi Nma-Odu.

In a ruling delivered in Port Harcourt, the court restrained the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, alongside 32 other defendants — including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of Rivers State — from taking any steps to advance the impeachment process.

Specifically, the court barred the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, from receiving, forwarding, considering, or acting on any request, resolution, or impeachment-related document from the House of Assembly for the purpose of constituting an investigative panel, pending the determination of the substantive matter. The interim injunction is to subsist for seven days.

The order was granted by Justice Florence Fiberesima after hearing motions ex parte filed separately by Gov. Fubara and his deputy. In the two suits, marked OYHC/7/CS/2026 and OYHC/6/CS/2026, the court also granted the claimants leave to serve the interim order and other originating processes on the first to the 31st defendants by substituted means, specifically by pasting them at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters.

The court further directed that the Chief Judge, listed as the 32nd defendant, be served through any member of staff of the judiciary at his chambers within the court premises.

Justice Fiberesima thereafter adjourned the matter to January 23, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice, as the legal battle over the impeachment move shifts from the political arena to the courtroom.

On Friday, the Rivers State House of Assembly had called on the Chief Judge to constitute a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Gov. Fubara and his deputy.

The call was made through a unanimous resolution of the House, with lawmakers vowing to press ahead with the impeachment process.

Earlier, members of the Assembly had addressed a press conference in Port Harcourt, during which they accused the governor of allegedly engaging in acts of blackmail.

Speaking to journalists, the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Dumle Maol, claimed that Gov. Fubara lacked the trust required to resolve the crisis rocking the oil-rich state.

The lawmakers accused the governor of breaching provisions of the 1999 Constitution, insisting that the Assembly was left with no option but to exercise its legislative powers by initiating impeachment proceedings against him.

They also alleged that the governor and his deputy had resorted to intimidating members of the Assembly.

However, the lawmakers expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for intervening in the crisis.

They further called on the Speaker, Mr. Amaewhule, to reconvene the House.

Their position came weeks after the Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Gov. Fubara and Dr. Nma-Odu over allegations of gross negligence, a move that has further heightened political tension in the coastal state.