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, citing a subsisting court order restraining such action.
The Assembly had asked the chief judge to set up a seven-member panel to probe Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
However, a source familiar with the development disclosed on Wednesday that Justice Amadi could not accede to the request because he is bound by an order of the Rivers State High Court.
According to the source, the order was issued by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and specifically mentioned the chief judge, directing him not to take any action that would contradict the ruling.
“The state High Court has issued an order in which the name of the Chief Judge was mentioned. He cannot disobey the law; he must comply with the court’s directive,” the source said.
The source added that while the faction of the Assembly led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule may choose to appeal the ruling, the existing court order remains binding until it is set aside.
“There is a possibility that the Amaewhule group may go on appeal, but the fact remains that the Chief Judge has been ordered by the High Court not to act contrary to the ruling. If there was no court order, the Chief Judge would have had no option but to constitute the investigative panel,” the source added.
