Court Halts Impeachment Moves Against Bayelsa Deputy Governor

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the House and five others to appear before it to show cause why they should not be stopped from making any move to impeach the Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo pending hearing and determination of a motion on notice to that effect.

The trial Judge, Justice Emeka gave the order on October 27, while ruling on an ex-parte motion marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/2219/2025 filed by the Bayelsa state Deputy Governor against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Attorney General of Bayelsa state, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa state and the Clerk, Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

The plaintiff, Senator Ewhrudjakpo had, in the motion filed on October 17 prayed the court for an order of interim injunction directing the defendants to appear and show cause why the prayers for interim injunction in the motion on notice pending before the court should not be granted against them pending the hearing and determination of the aforesaid motion on notice.

He also prays for an order of court restraining the defendants from,  “Removing or impeaching him as the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state arid by disregarding the provision of Section 188(5), (6), (7)(a), (b), (8), (9) and (11) and Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) on the decision of the plaintiff not to defect/decamp from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any registered political party before the expiration of his four years tenure as an elected deputy governor of Bayelsa state pending hearing of the motion on notice”.

The Deputy Governor also wants an order restraining the defendants from initiating impeachment notice, impeachment proceedings/meetings of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly against him on his decision not to defect/decamp from the PDP to the APC before the expiration of his four years tenure as an elected Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

He also seeks an order restraining the defendants from conducting any meeting, sitting, conference for the purpose of initiating or igniting impeachment proceedings against him as well as an order restraining the defendants from recognizing and dealing with the appointment of any member of the APC as the Deputy Governor of the state pending the hearing of the Motion of Notice.

Ewhrudjakpo also wants the defendants restrained from conducting illegal and unlawful impeachment of the plaintiff and also an order restraining the plans or moves to initiate impeachment proceedings against him for his refusal to resign his membership of the PDP along with the state governor, speaker of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly and 23 members of the state House of Assembly on October 15, 2025 at the state executive meeting in Bayelsa state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

He also seeks an order of court restraining the IGP, DSS Director and the Bayelsa state AG from withdrawing his security protection as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

Upon reading the affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte sworn to by one, Kareem Henry and after hearing arguments canvased by plaintiff’s counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, the court in a ruling delivered on October 27 and a Certified True Copy (CTC) made available to newsmen on Wednesday, granted prayer one in the interest of Justice.

According to Justice Nwite, “An order for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th defendants to appear and show cause why an order on interim injunction should not be granted” against the defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction which same is seeking to restrain the defendants from making any move to impeach the deputy governor.

The court then adjourned the case till November 13 for hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction against the defendants.
( Tribune)