BREAKING: Fresh Crisis Looms As Rivers Assembly Sends Strong Letter To Governor Fubara
The Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule has written the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, detailing the governor’s actions that breached the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The House in a letter dated July 8 and signed by its Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, addressed to Fubara shortly after rising from its plenary on Monday noted shortfalls by the governor as regards keeping to the oath of office.
In the document titled, “Resolutions reached at the First Legislative Day of the Second Session of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, the House drew the governor’s attention to the 2024 Appropriation Bill saying he was yet to present it before the lawmakers.
The House insisted that the governor had yet to present the bill to a duly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly under the speakership of Amaewhule in line with Section 122 of the Constitution.
Addressing Fubara, the House said: “You are yet to present the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, 2024 in line with Section 121(1) of the 1999 Constitution as altered and in compliance with the judgement delivered on the 22nd day of January 2024 by Honourable Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
“The Rivers State Government under your watch is now barred from spending funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of tbe state. The House hereby gives you the opportunity to present same within seven days from the date of this resolution.”
The Rivers Assembly also drew the governor’s attention to his breach of 192(2) of the Constitution accusing him of inaugurating purported members of the Rivers State Executive Council as commissioners.
The lawmakers told the governor that he also breached Section 7(1) of the Constitution and the Rivers State Local Government (amendment) Law 2023 for swearing-in certain unelected individuals to manage the affairs of the 23 local government councils in the state in flagrant disobedience to the judgement delivered by Justice Omotosho.
“The learned Judge restrained you from dealing with the three suspended who with your connivance are parading themselves as Rivers House of Assembly in total disobedience to the order of the learned Judge”, the House told the governor.
The assembly said the governor in total disregard to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal, has continued to transact with the three suspended members in contempt of the orders of the court.
The House said the governor refused to direct all impostors in his government to stop parading in their purported positions.
The letter said: “These infractions by you on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered, other extant laws and judicial pronouncements constitute gross misconduct ans abuse of office on your part. We call on you to do the needful and act lawfully without further delay and please accept the assurances of our high regards.”
