The Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected an interim order of the state High Court restraining it from proceeding with the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy. The court had on Friday issued an injunction barring the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, and the Clerk from forwarding any correspondence to the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, and also restrained the Chief Judge from taking any step toward the impeachment process.
However, reacting to the development, the spokesman of the Assembly, Enemi George, told DAILY POST that the court lacked the constitutional powers to intervene in the matter. He said the House was not aware of the court order and insisted that Section 188(10) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) expressly prevents judicial interference in the impeachment of a sitting governor. According to him, “The House is not aware of any court order. However, if you read section 188(10), the court has no power to intervene in the impeachment process.”