A High Court in Oyigbo, Rivers State, has stopped hearing the case filed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma-Odu, over moves to impeach them.
Justice Florence Fiberesima made the decision on Wednesday after lawyers told the court that appeals had already been filed at a higher court.
Governor Fubara and his deputy had gone to court to challenge the impeachment process started by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, 26 other lawmakers, and the Clerk of the House.
At the court session, the lawyer to the Speaker and the lawmakers, S. I. Ameh, SAN, informed the judge that an appeal was pending. He asked the court to stop further action on the case until the appeal is decided.
The lawyers representing Governor Fubara and the other defendants did not oppose the request.
In her ruling, Justice Fiberesima agreed to suspend the case indefinitely. She explained that since two appeals had been properly filed, it was best to allow the appeal court to first decide on the issues.
Earlier, the court had issued an interim order stopping the Speaker, the lawmakers, the Clerk of the House, and the Chief Judge of Rivers State from taking any further steps to impeach the governor.
The order also barred the Speaker and the 27 lawmakers from sending any impeachment notice or related documents to the Chief Judge for the setting up of a panel to investigate the allegations against Governor Fubara.
