The Rivers Assembly on Thursday made plans to direct the nation’s secret police, SSS, to investigate the state’s chief judge, Simeon Amadi, over alleged age falsification, in a cloaked and desperate attempt to get rid of anyone deemed an obstacle to an alleged impeachment plot against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The chief judge has a crucial role in the impeachment process against Mr Fubara, as he alone has the constitutional authority to permit or axe any attempt to oust the governor even before the plot to sack the matures.

Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol on Thursday accused Mr Amadi of falsifying his age.

“These documents before me simply say that the chief judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, falsified his age in service,” Mr Maol said on Thursday. “Mr Speaker, that is a very serious allegation, and I do hope that this House takes legislative notice.”

Speaker Martin Amaewhule said the allegation would be escalated to the SSS for investigation to determine the next course of action for the top jurist.

“The documents are only suggesting a case of age falsification by the honourable chief judge of the state, Simeon Amadi. What it means is that there has to be an investigation to that effect,” Mr Amaewhule told his colleagues after minutes of deliberation.

The assembly concluded on writing the SSS to take further action.

Mr Fubara and 28 of the 32 state legislators are at loggerheads following a fallout between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Majority of the state assembly members are acolytes of the FCT minister.

The lawmakers who revolted against Mr Fubara’s leadership obtained two court victories that gave them the upper hand against the governor.

Despite having the majority voices in the assembly, the lawmakers still needed the chief judge’s backing and say-so to impeach Mr Fubara, but Mr Amadi appeared to be a man with no political allegiance.

Nigerian constitution mandates that only the chief judge can constitute an independent panel of enquiry to investigate whether or not the governor has committed an impeachable offence. The panel’s findings are then submitted to the House for further action.

But if Mr Amadi does not even see any reason to constitute a panel against Mr Fubara, the impeachment plot becomes dead on arrival.

In light of this, the lawmakers loyal to Mr Wike are seeking the slightest infraction to discredit Mr Amadi, directing the SSS to investigate his age and find out if he is as old as he claims.

Mr Amadi swore the oath of office as Rivers chief judge in October 2021 while Mr Wike was governor. He is currently on a one-year sabbatical leave.

However, with time running out, the legislators appear eager to have him removed before his return, fearing that delaying their plans could jeopardise their ability to impeach Mr Fubara.

Waiting for Mr Amadi to return from sabbatical could mean missing the window to act, as preparations for the primary elections for the 2027 polls might be underway by that time.