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How Fubara’s Impeachment Moves Will Collapse – Sam Amadi

Published

12 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Eric

Former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Sam Amadi, has identified due judicial process as Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s strongest safeguard against impeachment in Rivers State.

He specifically stated that the judicial phase of the process remains Fubara’s “saving grace,” as it is likely to shield him from impeachment.

Amadi said the impeachment process hinges largely on the appointment of an investigative panel by the state’s Chief Judge, describing it as the “anchor point” of the entire procedure.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Friday, Amadi noted that Governor Fubara’s influence over the judicial process gives him significant leverage, especially given what he described as the weak legal basis of the impeachment allegations.

He argued that the grounds being advanced against the governor do not amount to gross misconduct, stressing that an independent panel made up of individuals of integrity would likely reach the conclusion that Fubara has committed no impeachable offence since the end of emergency rule in the state.

He said: “Now the main anchor for the impeachment procedure is the appointment by the Chief Judge of the state of those investigators. That is really, really the anchor point. If you don’t get there, you are gone.

“So what leverage does he have? Of course, he removed the chief judge, everything has been politics, and I don’t blame him. He knows the game against himself. He appointed a chief judge that we think would be more amenable to him, and again, because also the grounds for his impeachment are not legally overwhelming, to say the least, some would say it’s really trash. But the judge will be the saving point here, because he will appoint people who may not, at least by definition, constitutionally, people of integrity, who are not politically partisan.

“So they will look at the lens and say, has this governor, since the end of emergency rule, done anything that amounts to gross misconduct, even though the Supreme Court has said gross misconduct is in the eye of the beholder. But here this men of integrity would look at the lens and say, what really is the big deal here? What has this governor done that’s suffering six months’ incarceration, if you like, politically, and then coming back hasn’t done anything.

“So this will be the saving… They will say, we don’t think this guy has done anything to warrant impeachment. I think the least saving grace will be the judicial side, where he has more leverage, and whose definitive proclamation by via the investigators who say no guilt. And the law says, as Nikki Tobi rightly put it, he says “they don’t have two options, just one of two proven: not proven. If they say not proven that is dead. If they say proven, then straight to the process of impeachment.” So that, I think, is really where we are here, and that’s a saving grace for him.”

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More Troubles for Ahmed Farouk: Dangote Drags Ex-NMDPRA Boss to EFCC over Corruption Claims

Published

11 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Eric

The Chairman of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, through his legal representative, has filed a formal corruption petition against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to our correspondent by the Dangote Group media team on Friday.

Recall that Dangote had earlier petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate Ahmed for allegedly spending $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland. He withdrew the petition a few days ago, even as the ICPC vowed to continue with its investigation.

The statement on Friday said Dangote’s petition to the EFCC followed “The withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.”

In the petition, signed by Lead Counsel Dr O.J. Onoja, Dangote urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed, and to prosecute him if found culpable.

The petition further stated that Dangote would provide evidence to substantiate claims of financial misconduct and impunity.

“We make bold to state that the commission is strategically positioned, along with sister agencies, to prosecute financial crimes and corruption-related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders. See Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt.1624) 337,” the petition read.

Onoja further urged the commission, under the leadership of Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, “To investigate the complaint of abuse of office and corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting.”

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We Won’t Allow Rivers Govt Be Destabilized, APC Rejects Move to Impeach Gov Fubara

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Eric

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter, has vehemently rejected moves by the State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy.

The House of Assembly, on Thursday, commenced an impeachment process against Fubara over alleged misconduct..

The impeachment notice is expected to be issued to the governor and his deputy in the next seven days.

Reacting, the Rivers APC, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, rejected the move.

“Our position as at today on this matter is that we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our governor and his deputy.

“It will be totally untenable for our party to keep quiet when an obvious hang-over from strifes that occurred within the PDP are allowed to resurface in our great party,” Darlington said.

He added that the ruling party “will do everything possible to ensure that the Government of Rivers State, which is an APC government, is not destabilized”.

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Atiku Won’t Step Aside for Obi, Dele Momodu Declares

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Eric

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and close ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Dele Momodu, has ruled out speculation that Atiku may withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in favour of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

A veteran journalist and Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Momodu dismissed the rumours on Thursday, insisting that Atiku has no reason to step down despite growing talks of a possible opposition consensus ahead of the next general election.

Atiku, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 poll, defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in November 2025, a move widely seen as positioning for the party’s ticket in 2027. Obi, who finished third in the 2023 election, also joined the ADC on the last day of 2025, after leaving the Labour Party, fuelling speculation of a possible political alliance.

Speaking in Abuja, Momodu said pressure on Atiku to abandon his ambition was driven by “malice and prejudice,” particularly arguments centred on age.

“Several people have asked me to advise former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 race. When I ask why, they say he is too old,” Momodu said. “Not that he is less healthy than President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu can contest, but Atiku shouldn’t?”

He rejected claims that Obi could emerge as Atiku’s preferred successor or running mate, noting that prominent Obi supporters, including Prof. Pat Utomi and activist Aisha Yesufu, had publicly opposed such an arrangement.

The comments follow reports that Atiku might step aside for Obi under a purported agreement for a single-term presidency, with Atiku returning in 2031 — a claim Momodu described as unfounded.