A Port Harcourt High Court presided over by Justice Florence Fiberesima has adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, challenging the impeachment process initiated against them by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Fiberesima said she arrived at the decision after being informed that two separate appeals had been entered in respect of the matter. The adjournment, the court held, would allow the Court of Appeal to first determine the issues before it.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, and 27 lawmakers, S.I. Amen, (SAN), notified the court of the pending appeals and applied orally for a stay of proceedings.
The application was not opposed by counsel to the claimants, Paul Orikoro (SAN) nor by Lawrence Oko-Jaja (SAN), who represents Victor Oko-Jumbo, Orubienimigha Timothy, and Sokari Goodboy, the other defendants in the suit.
Justice Fiberesima consequently adjourned the matter sine die, pending the outcome of the appeals.
The development comes amid an earlier interim injunction granted by the same Court, which restrained the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, several lawmakers, the Clerk of the House, and the Chief Judge of the state from taking further steps toward the impeachment of the governor and his deputy.
The injunction barred the forwarding or consideration of impeachment notices or related documents for the purpose of constituting an investigative panel over alleged gross misconduct.
