Critical Error Detected In Impeachment Retraining Order By Rivers High Court To The State’s Chief Judge
A critical error which raises suspicion has been spotted in the restraining order to the Rivers state chief, mandating him from acting on any impeachment related communication from the Rivers state House Assembly.
The interim order which was granted by Justice F.A. Fiberesima on Friday, mandated the chief of the state from acting in accordance with the request from the Rivers State House of Assembly especially on the constitution of seven-man panel of inquiry to investigate the allegation levied against governor Sim Fubara by the Rivers state House of Assembly.
However, there appears to be a troubling discrepancy about the interim restraining order. According to the data on the Rivers state Court Management System (RivCOMiS), the application for the restraining order was filed at on 16th of January, 2026 at 11:06AM.
The case was thereafter assigned to Justice Florence Fiberesima, one hour later, at 12:06PM same day. While the case was heard same day and judgement given at 9:00AM, implying that the judgement had already been given before the case was filed at 11:06A.M and assigned to a judgement at 12:06PM.
This has raised concerns about the Independence of the judiciary and fear of interference in court proceedings by the members of the executive and legislative arms of government.
The political atmosphere in Rivers state is charged while many anxiously wait for the next direction or form the Wike-Fubara lingering political feud with take.
While the Rivers state High Court has temporary halted the impeachment proceeding against Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, it’s expected that the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly will likely challenge the restraining order in Court of Appeal as they can not proceed with the impeachment proceeding against governor Sim Fubara without the restraining order being vacated by a court of higher jurisdiction which is the court of appeal.
