Rivers Assembly Serves Gov. Fubara Notice Of Misconduct

Rivers Assembly Serves Gov. Fubara Notice Of Misconduct

The Rivers State House of Assembly has served a notice of misconduct on the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara thereby sparking a potential impeachment process.

The notice was contained in a letter signed by the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule on Monday and addressed to the Governor.

But when contacted, the state Commissioner for information and Communications, Werisenibo Joseph Johnson said such letter was never received by the Governor.

The letter of misconduct was signed by 26 members of the House on March 14, 2025, saying that it was in compliance with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution as amended.

According to the House of Assembly Members, the notice is “in compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws”.

The letter cites several constitutional breaches and infractions by the Governor saying, “We the undersigned members of the Rivers State House of Assembly hereby forward to you a Notice of Gross Misconduct by the Governor of Rivers State in the performance of the functions of his office.

“Reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds contrary to Sections 120, 121 (1)(2) and 122 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“Hindering or obstructing the Rivers State House of Assembly which is another arm of government protected by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) from performing her constitutional duties”.

Other acts of misconduct leveled against Governor Fubara includes, “Appointment of persons to occupy offices/positions in the Rivers State Government without allowing for the requirement of screening and confirmation as prescribed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), other extant laws but making the request for screening to persons other than the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Seizure of salaries, allowances as well as funds standing to the credit of the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly contrary to Section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws.

“Seizure of the Salary of the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly- Mr. Emeka Amadi”

Consequently, the House of Assembly members assert that Governor Fubara has demonstrated his inability to govern in line with the Nigerian Constitution and his oath of office.

“Mr. Speaker, we conclude by stating that the Governor has shown that he is not prepared to govern Rivers State in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and his oath of office”.

A similar notice was served to Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, accusing her of complicity in the alleged misconduct.

“That Her Excellency, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Deputy Governor of Rivers State supported and connived with Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS, Governor, Rivers State and refused to present the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, 2024 to the Rivers State House of Assembly contrary to Section 121(1)(2) of the Constitution and disobeyed the order of the Federal High Court which declared that “thus as it stands in law, no Appropriation Bill of Rivers State has been presented neither has any of such Bill being passed into law as the purported presentation, passage and signing into law of the Appropriation Bill 2024 of Rivers State is void ab initio” and ordered him to present the Appropriation Bill 2024 to the House.

“That Her Excellency, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu DSSRS, Deputy Governor of Rivers State supported or backed His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State in the State Executive Council meetings as they authorized or approved withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State in the 2024 financial year of Rivers State without an appropriation law duly passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly contrary to Section 120 of the Constitution, the letter alleged in part.

The House gave Governor Fubara with his deputy, 14 days to the respond to the allegations leveled against them.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson at a press conference on Monday said Rivers state was facing a gloomy Future due to the attitude of the lawmakers who are bent on removing the Governor from power.

“It is now common knowledge that members of the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly have by their actions refused to allow the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir (Dr.) Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS to fully implement the judgment of the Supreme Court on the long drawn political and legal battle that has lingered since after the ill-fated attempt to impeach him on October 30, 2023.

“Right from when this unjustified onslaught against Governor Fubara started, the gentleman has never left anyone in doubt about his unwavering commitment to peace and resolute determination to put Rivers people FIRST over and above personal and/or sectional interests”.

Johnson recalled that Siminalayi Fubara, personally issued and signed a letter addressed to Rt. Honourable Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, formally notifying him and unambiguously indicating his intention to come before the honourable members of the State Legislature to lay the 2025 budget before them on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 for consideration. He followed this up by making phone calls to the Honourable Speaker.

“Sadly, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accompanied by government officials, were denied access into the Legislative Quarters where the RSHA members currently hold their sitting on the appointed day, that is, Wednesday, March 12, 2025”.

He however appealed to the lawmakers not to embark on a futile image laundry by wrongly claiming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara who by all intents and purposes “is prepared, willing and ready to re-present the 2025 budget and carry out full implementation of all aspects of the bizarre and utterly controversial judgment of the Apex Court for the sake of peace, is being misrepresented and painted in bad colour as not ready to comply with the judgment”.