The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, has declined the request of the Rivers State House of Assembly to constitute a judicial panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
In a letter dated January 20 and addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, the chief judge said he could not take any step on the request because of two court orders currently restraining him from doing so.
Justice Amadi explained that the orders, which were served on his office on January 16, 2026, expressly bar him from receiving, processing, or acting on any communication relating to the setting up of a seven-member panel for the purpose of investigating the governor and the deputy governor.
He stressed that the judiciary must be guided by constitutional principles and the rule of law, noting that all public authorities are bound to obey court orders that are still in force, regardless of how they may view them.
The chief judge also referenced previous judicial decisions, recalling a similar case in 2007 where the Chief Judge of Kwara State was faulted for proceeding with the constitution of an investigative panel despite a restraining order. According to him, the Court of Appeal later declared the panel invalid.
Below is the full letter;
