The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has turned down the request of the house of assembly to constitute a judicial panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

He cited a court order barring him from doing so. The Rivers State House of Assembly had requested him to set up a seven-member panel to probe Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.

In a letter dated January 20 to the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, the chief judge cited two court orders barring him doing so.

Justice Amadi stated that the orders were served on his office on January 16, 2026 and remain in force.

The chief judge emphasised that constitutionalism and the rule of law require all authorities to obey subsisting court orders, irrespective of their perception of the orders’ validity.

Citing legal precedents in a similar case in 2007, in which the Chief Judge of Kwara State was condemned for ignoring a restraining court order when setting up an investigative panel, a decision later voided by the Court of Appeal.

Justice Amadi further observed that the Speaker has already filed an appeal against the court orders at the Court of Appeal.