Siminalayi Fubara
By Akeem Atoyebi
The Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) has upped its war against the governor of the state Monday as it reportedly issued a gross misconduct notice against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The notice came on the heels of widespread speculation regarding moves to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor.
The lawmakers officially served the notice, dated March 14, yesterday, stating that their actions were in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
It read: “in compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended) and the other extant laws, we, the undersigned members of RSHA, hereby forward to you a Notice of Gross Misconduct.
“The notice is issued to the Governor of Rivers State in the performance of the functions of his office.”
The notice, signed by the 26 lawmakers, accused Fubara of reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds, citing violations of Sections 120, 121(1)(2), and 122 of the Nigerian Constitution.
The legislators said the governor’s action indicated his unwillingness to govern the state in accordance with the constitution and his oath of office.
They further referenced a ruling by the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/CV/1174/2024, which, according to them, condemned Fubara’s actions.
“The Supreme Court stated that ‘the eight respondent’s fear of impeachment by the RSHA is no justification for his attacks on the RSHA, the Constitution, the Government of Rivers State, and the rule of law,” the notice read in part.
Similarly, in the Assembly’s letter concerning he Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, the Assembly said: “In compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws, we the undersigned members of the Rivers State House of Assembly hereby forward to you a Notice of Gross Misconduct by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State in the performance of the functions of her office.”
Meanwhile, the government has cried out that the future of its people is bleak, following the uncooperative stance of the House of Assembly to move the state forward.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joe Johnson, expressed this while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
This is even as the lawmakers have commenced an impeachment process to remove the governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
Johnson stressed that efforts of the governor to see to the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement with the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill have been frustrated with the House of Assembly denying receipt of Fubara’s letter and inaccessibility to the Assembly Quarters (temporary sitting venue).
He lamented that Rivers people were facing a gloomy future as uncooperative actions of the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly are impeding Governor Fubara’s readiness to implement Supreme Court judgement.
“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 judgement 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.”
According to the commissioner, right from when this unjustified onslaught against Governor Fubara started, he (Fubara) 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 continued: “In his (governor ) statewide broadcast a few days after the judgement, Governor Fubara declared his acceptance of the judgement and made an unambiguous commitment to full compliance and implementation.
“In that broadcast, he ordered the recently duly elected LGA Chairmen ousted by the Apex Court, to immediately hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs), even as he appealed to his supporters who are sad over the judgment to accept it with equanimity.
“The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) under the leadership of its indefatigable Chairman and Chief Electoral Officer, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict, convened a stakeholders meeting wherein all registered political parties in the state, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), Civil Society organisations (CSOs), the Press and general public were invited to attend at their headquarters in Port Harcourt.
“At that stakeholders meeting, the Electoral umpire set the ball rolling for conduct of a fresh LGAs elections by releasing the elections timetable and elections guidelines, fixing August 9, 2025 for the exercise.
“This is in full compliance with the Supreme Court judgment ordering a fresh election into the third tier of government.”
The Commissioner for Information and Communications noted several steps the governor had taken to implement the orders of the apex court, expressing concerns of failures of the House of Assembly to be cooperative and achieve the desired peace.
“Just last Friday, March 14, 2025, Governor Siminalayi Fubara in keeping with his resolve to do the needful, sent another letter personally signed by him to the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amaewhule, again to notify him and members of the RSHA under his leadership, indicating his plan to come to re-present the 2025 budget to them on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 or any other day that may be convenient to the House, in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict, in order to keep the wheel of government of the state running.
“In a letter dated 13th March, 2025, Governor Fubara again requested to present the budget to the Assembly on Wednesday 19th March, 2025 ör on any other date within March 2025 that you may consider convenient”.
“Regrettably, the staff of the Assembly refused to receive and acknowledge the letter. A courier company which was engaged to deliver the letter also returned it with a report that it was rejected at the Assembly Quarters where the members currently sit.
“Yet, the narrative from the Rivers State House of Assembly is that Governor Fubara has refused to present the budget.
“Although it is tempting to ignore false narratives in the social media that Governor Fubara has refused to take steps to present the budget to the Assembly, we cannot ignore the press briefing by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Dr Enemi George, alleging that the governor is frustrating the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgement, particularly the directive requiring him to re-present the 2025 Appropriate Bill to the lawmakers.
“Following the refusal by the Assembly to receive and acknowledge the governor’s letter, delivered by government officials and a courier company, the Rivers State Government took the initiative of publishing the letter in two national dailies. It would be uncharitable to claim that the Governor’s letter was published on social media and not formally delivered to the Assembly.
“Dr. Enemi George also challenged the governor to produce an acknowledgment copy of the letter under reference. We cannot produce an acknowledgment copy because the Assembly rejected the letter from the Governor. We can however refer all parties to the substituted means of service in The Nation and The Guardian.
“The Rivers State governor is acting in good faith notwithstanding that false narratives are being peddled by the same people frustrating compliance with the judgment of court.
“To the chagrin of all right thinking persons, the Assembly members announced that it was proceeding on vacation and Legislative activities adjourned sine die.
“It is glaringly clear that with the current actions of the House, the dire consequences and harsh realities that the civil servants, retirees and people of the state will face unimaginable economic hardships, as the government will be unable to pay salaries, pensions and other emoluments as well as perform other obligations at the end of the month, as both the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation have been ordered to seize revenue allocations to the state until its judgment is fully implemented.
“The collateral damages of the actions of the legislative arm of government in Rivers will be so severe as non-release of warehoused revenues due the state from the Federation Account will ultimately ground the operation of all sectors of the government.
“Should this opportunity to pull the state from the precipice fail, the people and residents of the state without exception are bound to suffer avoidable calamities of economic, social and political upheavals that might sink us deeper into unimaginable crises,” Johnson said.
