A Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, has issued a stern warning to the state’s House of Assembly and other involved parties, cautioning them against taking any further actions regarding the planned impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This cautionary message came from Justice Phoebe Ayua, who rendered this warning during a ruling on November 1. This ruling was based on an ex-parte motion presented as part of a lawsuit filed by two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, namely Amadi Madubuochi and Goya Oluka, against the state Assembly and eight others.
Justice Ayua’s pronouncement follows a recent restraining order issued by a High Court in Rivers State, which prevented the state’s lawmakers from proceeding with the impeachment process.
Justice Ayua delivered his ruling after hearing arguments from Eric Omare, the attorney representing the plaintiffs. Omare contended that the attempt to impeach Fubara was legally questionable since the legislators had not provided any evidence of wrongdoing by the governor.
In a copy of the enrolled order seen in Abuja on Thursday, Justice Ayua said: “An order is made, directing that all parties on record respect the court and should not take any step concerning the subject matter in this matter, since the matter is already before this court (sub judice) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on the notion.”
Justice Ayua also ordered that the respondents be notified about the pending suit, marked: FHC/PH/CS/234/2023, and motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions.
He then adjourned till November 9 for a hearing of the motion on notice.
Listed as respondents/defendants in the suit are the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, the state’s Chief Judge; Commissioner of Police, Rivers State; Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Rivers State; the Governor of Rivers State; Deputy Governor of Rivers State and the Inspector General of the (IGP).
