The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has turned down an application to set up a judicial panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In an application filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, the house prayed that Justice Amadi set up a seven-member panel to probe Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over alleges misuse of office.
However, declining the appeal in a letter dated January 20 and addressed to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, Justice Amadi relied on two court injunctions which bars him from receiving, forwarding, or considering any requests to form such a panel.
“By the doctrine of ‘lis pendens’, parties and the court have to await the outcome of the appeal,” he said.
“In view of the foregoing, my hand is fettered, as there are subsisting interim orders of injunction and appeal against the said orders. I am therefore legally disabled at this point from exercising my duties under Section 188(5) of the Constitution in the instant,” “magnanimous enough to appreciate the legal position of the matter.”