The Rivers State House of Assembly has alleged that certain individuals are plotting to obtain ex parte court orders from High Courts outside the Port Harcourt Judicial Division to prevent the legislature from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Dr. Enemi Alabo George. According to the Assembly, it received “credible information” that moves were underway to secure court injunctions aimed at stopping lawmakers from performing their duties.
The development comes amid a deepening political crisis in the state following the House’s decision last Thursday to commence an investigation into the financial and administrative activities of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The resolution was adopted through a motion sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol.
Lawmakers accused the governor of failing to submit the Mid-Term Expenditure Framework as required by law and of allegedly expending public funds without legislative appropriation. They argued that the alleged actions amounted to grave constitutional violations and undermined the authority of the legislature.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, insisted that due process would be strictly followed, adding that the law would be allowed to take its full course. He said impeachment proceedings would be pursued to their logical conclusion.
Shortly after the sitting, an impeachment notice against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, surfaced on social media. The House later confirmed that impeachment proceedings were ongoing and that official notices of allegations of gross misconduct had been formally forwarded to both officials.
In a statement dated January 9, 2026, the Assembly said the process was “fully on course in line with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).” It disclosed that the notices of allegations brought pursuant to Section 188 of the Constitution had been served on the governor and deputy governor, while the House awaited their responses.
However, in a fresh statement issued on January 11, the Assembly alleged that individuals opposed to the process were seeking to exploit courts outside Port Harcourt to obtain ex parte orders designed to halt legislative activities.
The House noted that those behind the alleged plot were aware of constitutional provisions, including Section 272(5), which vests jurisdiction in the Federal High Court to determine whether the tenure of a governor, deputy governor, or member of a State House of Assembly has ceased or become vacant. It also cited Section 188(10) of the Constitution, which bars courts from entertaining or questioning proceedings of a House of Assembly or its panel relating to allegations of gross misconduct.
The Assembly further referenced recent judicial pronouncements, including a Court of Appeal decision that nullified a similar ex parte order issued by a Rivers State High Court in violation of constitutional provisions, warning that “a word is enough for the wise.”
It called on those concerned to exercise restraint and avoid actions capable of undermining the Constitution and the rule of law. The House also urged office holders served with notices of allegations of gross misconduct to respond to the issues raised “item by item,” rather than resorting to what it described as subterranean moves or media attacks through proxies.
While reaffirming its commitment to constitutionalism and the rule of law, the Assembly urged residents to remain calm. As of the time of filing this report, the governor and members of his cabinet had not publicly reacted to the developments.
Meanwhile, the Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders have expressed concern over the impeachment move. In a statement signed by its Acting Chairman and former Deputy Governor, Gabriel Toby, the elders warned that impeachment is a grave constitutional process that should not be used as an instrument of political vendetta or factional battles.
The forum described the reasons advanced so far for the impeachment as “disturbingly weak,” lacking in substance, public interest justification, and constitutional merit, and driven more by narrow personal interests than genuine concern for good governance.
The elders cautioned that the action could deepen political divisions, erode public confidence in democratic institutions, and further destabilize the state, noting that Rivers State is yet to fully recover from the political and institutional disruptions of the recent period of emergency rule.
Similarly, the Civil Liberty Organisation, in a statement signed by its State Chairman, Sunny Dada, and Secretary, Dr. Chris Onyegbule, expressed concern that the prevailing political tensions could distort constitutional procedures and turn them into tools of conflict rather than democratic oversight.
