The President General of respected Niger Delta socio-cultural group, the Orashi National Congress, ONC, Amb Comrade Emeni Ibe (JP AP), has commended the Chief Judge of Rivers State for declining to constitute impeachment panel against the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Amb Ibe said, “I use this medium to hail the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Honourable Justice Simeon C. Amadi, for boldly stating that he is legally restrained from constituting a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against our amiable Governor and his deputy by the Rivers State lawmakers”.
“This is a welcome development and highly commendable. Aside respecting the orders of the Court, it is an opportunity for the parties involved to reconcile their differences and cooperate to move the state forward.”
“Even though Justice Amadi’s hands are legally “fettered” due to subsisting interim orders of injunction issued by the High Court and pending appeals before the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, I commend him for the respect of orders of the Court as some other judges may be tempted to do otherwise.”
“In reinforcing his position, the Rivers Chief Judge has not only highlighted the supremacy of the rule of law but the obligation of all authorities to obey Court orders, whether or not they agree with them. Therefore, Honourable Justice Simeon Amadi must be commended for his bold stand.”
“Like I have appealed before now, the Speaker and the Honourable Members of the House of Assembly should sheath their swords in the interest of the Rivers people. The political tension in our dear state will go down immediately once they abandon the impeachment plot and go for a roundtable discussion in the interest of peace and development of Rivers State.”