Judge Chibuzor Simeon Amadi, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, has refused to form a seven-person panel to look into claims of egregious misconduct against Governor Sim Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Ordu.
Justice Amadi cited two court orders prohibiting him from accepting, sending, or considering any petitions to constitute such a panel in a letter dated January 20, 2026, to Martins Amaewhule, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
On January 16, 2026, the orders were delivered to his office and are still in effect.
The Chief Judge underlined that regardless of their opinion of the validity of existing court orders, all authorities must abide by them due to constitutionalism and the rule of law.
He cited court rulings, pointing out that in a comparable situation in 2007, the Chief Judge of Kwara State was found guilty of disobeying a restraining court order when establishing an investigating panel; the Court of Appeal later overturned this ruling.
The Speaker has already filed an appeal against the court orders at the Court of Appeal, according to Justice Amadi, adding another level of complexity to the continuing legal proceedings surrounding the claims.
He cited court rulings, pointing out that in a comparable situation in 2007, the Chief Judge of Kwara State was found guilty of disobeying a restraining court order when establishing an investigating panel; the Court of Appeal later overturned this ruling.
The Speaker has already filed an appeal against the court orders at the Court of Appeal, according to Justice Amadi, adding another level of complexity to the continuing legal proceedings surrounding the claims.
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