𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐚, 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐲

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, has formally written to the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Chibuzor Simeon Amadi, requesting the constitution of a seven-member judicial panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The request follows a resolution of the Rivers State House of Assembly, which invoked relevant constitutional provisions empowering the legislature to initiate an impeachment process where allegations of gross misconduct arise against a sitting governor or deputy governor.

In the letter, Speaker Amaewhule asked the Chief Judge to exercise his constitutional responsibility by setting up an independent panel of persons of unquestionable integrity to investigate the allegations and report its findings back to the Assembly within the stipulated timeframe.

Under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Chief Judge is required, upon receipt of such a request, to constitute a panel of seven persons who are not members of any public service, legislative house, or political party, to ensure neutrality and credibility of the process.

The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, which has pitted the House of Assembly leadership against Governor Fubara’s administration, deepening tensions within the state’s political landscape.

If constituted, the panel’s findings will determine whether the impeachment process against the governor and his deputy proceeds or is discontinued.