A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Ordu, challenging the impeachment process initiated against them by the Speaker and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Justice Florence Fiberesima of the Oyigbo Judicial Division gave the ruling on Friday following an application by counsel to the Speaker, Martin Chike-Amaewhule, and twenty-seven lawmakers.
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Lead defence counsel, S.I. Amen, SAN, informed the court that an appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal and orally applied for a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal.
The application was not opposed by counsel to the claimants, Paul Orikolo, SAN, nor by Lawrence Oko-Jaja, SAN, who represents the 28th to 30th defendants.
Ruling on the application, Justice Fiberesima adjourned the matter indefinitely, citing the existence of two separate appeals already entered before the appellate court, which she said should first determine the issues in dispute.
The suit arose from an earlier interim injunction granted by the court restraining the Speaker and twenty-seven lawmakers, alongside the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of Rivers State, from forwarding impeachment-related documents aimed at setting up a panel to investigate alleged gross misconduct against the Governor and his Deputy.
The indefinite adjournment effectively puts further proceedings in the matter on hold pending the outcome of the appeals.
