The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Chibuzor Simeon Amadi, has declined to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Sim Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Ordu.
In a letter dated January 20, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, Justice Amadi stated that two court orders prevent him from receiving, forwarding, or considering any request to form such a panel.
The orders were served on his office on January 16, 2026, and are still in force, the Chief Judge said.
Justice Amadi stressed that constitutionalism and the rule of law require all authorities to comply with existing court orders, regardless of their views on the orders’ validity.
He cited legal precedents, recalling a similar case in 2007 where the Chief Judge of Kwara State was condemned for ignoring a restraining court order when setting up an investigative panel—a decision that was later nullified by the Court of Appeal.
The Chief Judge also noted that the Speaker has filed an appeal against the court orders at the Court of Appeal, adding another layer to the ongoing legal dispute surrounding the allegations.