The Rivers State House of Assembly has rejected a ruling of the state High Court seeking to halt the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy.
Earlier, Tori News reported that a Rivers State High Court on Friday issued an interim injunction restraining the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and the Clerk of the House from sending any correspondence to the Chief Judge of the state in connection with the impeachment process.
The court also barred the Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, from taking any steps toward the impeachment of the governor and his deputy.
However, reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the House of Assembly, Enemi George, told DAILY POST that the court lacks the constitutional power to intervene in impeachment proceedings.
George said the Assembly was not aware of any such court order, insisting that the matter falls outside judicial jurisdiction.
According to him, Section 188(10) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) expressly prohibits the courts from intervening in the impeachment of a sitting governor.
“The House is not aware of any court order. However, if you read Section 188(10) of the Constitution, the court has no power to intervene in the impeachment process,” he stated.