By Our Reporter
Port Harcourt — 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, Ngozi Ordu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
The decision was conveyed in a letter dated January 20, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule. Justice Amadi explained that he is restrained by two subsisting court orders which bar him from receiving, processing, or acting on any request to set up such a panel.
According to the Chief Judge, the court orders were served on his office on January 16, 2026, and remain valid until set aside by a competent court. He stressed that constitutionalism and the rule of law demand strict obedience to court orders by all authorities, regardless of personal opinions about their correctness.
Justice Amadi cited legal precedents to support his position, recalling a similar incident in 2007 when the Chief Judge of Kwara State was criticised for ignoring a restraining court order and proceeding to constitute an investigative panel. The action was later nullified by the Court of Appeal, reinforcing the principle that public officers must respect judicial directives.
He further noted that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly has already filed an appeal challenging the court orders at the Court of Appeal, adding to the ongoing legal contest surrounding the matter.
The House of Assembly had earlier requested the Chief Judge to set up a seven-member judicial panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy, a move that has heightened political tension in the state.
Justice Amadi’s refusal effectively puts the legislative process on hold pending the determination of the appeal and the status of the restraining orders.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Rivers State Government nor the House of Assembly had issued an official reaction to the Chief Judge’s decision. Political observers say the development underscores the growing legal and political complexity surrounding governance in Rivers State, with the final outcome likely to be determined by the courts.
