The legal battle over the impeachment move against Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy has shifted decisively to the courts, with all eyes now fixed on January 23, 2026, when the substantive issues will be heard.
Speaking from 7:31 on ARISE News on Sunday, January 18, Professor Anthony Agbazuere, a Professor of Law at Gregory University, Uturu, said the interim court orders restraining the impeachment process have effectively frozen all actions by the Rivers State House of Assembly pending further judicial review.
“On the 23rd of January, everybody will hear what they told the court,” Agbazuere said, referring to the Rivers Assembly members who sought to proceed with the impeachment despite the legal challenge.
According to the law professor, the ex parte order issued by the Rivers State High Court bars the Speaker, Assembly members, the Clerk of the House, and the Chief Judge of the state from taking any steps related to the impeachment process until the motion on notice is argued.
Agbazuere dismissed claims that the judiciary was overreaching its powers, explaining that while impeachment is constitutionally assigned to the legislature under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), courts are empowered to intervene where due process is in question
He stressed that the January 23 hearing will be pivotal, as it is the point at which the court will publicly examine the basis upon which the interim order was granted.
“That date is when the court will consider the arguments properly. If the lawmakers have a solid legal case, it will stand. If not, it will collapse,” he said.
Agbazuere also noted that all parties are constitutionally bound to obey court orders, warning that any attempt to sidestep the injunction would amount to a breach of the rule of law
Until the court hears the substantive arguments, he said, the impeachment process remains legally suspended, leaving the judiciary as the decisive arena for resolving the deepening political crisis in Rivers State. See More
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