The CJ Will Have To Set Up A 7 Man Panel That Will Investigate The Allegations -Liborous Oshoma

A Nigerian Lawyer Liborous Oshoma has detailed the constitutional requirements that must be satisfied before Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara can be impeached by the state legislature.

In a recent TVC interview , the Legal Practitioner explained the legal safeguards built into Nigeria’s impeachment framework. “The position of impeachment as spelt out by Section 188 of the Constitution, it’s a robust provision that also requires both the legislature, the executive, and the Judiciary,” Oshoma stated. “The CJ (Chief Judge) will have to set up a 7-man panel that will investigate the allegations raised by the legislature and then make returns.”

The lawyer emphasized that due process must be followed, adding, “And then, also, there will be compliance with the twin pillars of natural justice, which means you must hear the other side, and there must be a defense. Unlike those kangaroo processes that we saw in Edo and all of that.”

He expressed confidence in the constitutional safeguards, noting, “So, I think it would not be that easy for them to impeach the governor.” However, he questioned the governor’s political strategy, saying, “Which is why I have just been wondering why the governor would not recognize these members, even though he knows fully well that it would be difficult for them to achieve that impeachment.”

He highlighted that the governor’s initial approach to the court judgment by Justice Omotosho and Justice Lifu of the Appeal Court had eroded public support: “But with the way it’s going now, even people who had been sympathetic to his cause will just feel that the governor is just being high-handed and working against the Constitution, and they might withdraw their sympathies.”

Meanwhile, former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has publicly supported potential impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara. Wike declared that the governor deserves to be impeached and stated he would not discourage lawmakers from pursuing such action.

The former governor claimed that his political opponents had been encouraging Fubara during the state’s ongoing conflict. He insisted that the governor must now comply with the Supreme Court’s order to prevent anarchy.