By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Port Harcourt
The legal battle over the political crisis in Rivers State escalated on Friday as a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt halted moves by the State House of Assembly to advance impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
The court issued interim restraining orders stopping the Speaker of the House, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, the Clerk of the Assembly and 31 other defendants from taking any action connected to the alleged impeachment process.
In a key aspect of the ruling, the court barred the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any request or resolution from the House of Assembly seeking the constitution of a seven-member investigative panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy.
The orders were made by Justice F. A. Fiberesima of the High Court sitting in Oyibo Local Government Area while granting ex parte motions filed separately by Governor Fubara and Prof. Odu.
Justice Fiberesima further authorised substituted service of court processes on the lawmakers by pasting the documents at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters, while directing that the Chief Judge be served through any official within his chambers at the High Court.
The suits, marked OYHC/7/CS/2026 and OYHC/6/CS/2026, were filed following a letter forwarded by the Assembly to the Chief Judge, requesting the setting up of an investigative panel as part of the impeachment procedure.
The court, however, limited the restraining orders to seven days and adjourned the matter to January 23, 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
The ruling effectively stalls the impeachment process, further intensifying the ongoing political standoff between the executive and the legislature in Rivers State.