The Rivers State House of Assembly faction loyal to Nyesom Wike has received a reprieve after the State High Court sitting in Oyigbo refused to grant a perpetual injunction seeking to restrain the Chief Judge, Justice Chibuzor Simeon Amadi, from acting on impeachment petitions against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Ordu.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
According to Olayinka, the presiding judge ruled that the court could not grant the relief sought because the matter is already before the Court of Appeal. The judge subsequently adjourned the case indefinitely, pending the outcome of the appeal.
The ruling means the High Court will take no further action on the matter until the appellate court delivers its judgment on issues surrounding the impeachment process.
Recall that Justice Amadi had earlier declined to constitute a seven-member panel to act on the impeachment proceedings, citing existing court orders.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, had served Governor Fubara with an impeachment notice and confirmed that the Chief Judge had received the notice.