The Rivers State House of Assembly has started the process of ousting Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, from office, according to a report from DAILY POST. The impeachment process began on Monday, March 17, 2025, when the Assembly formally served both individuals with a notice of alleged misbehavior.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The allegations against Governor Fubara include his failure to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the Assembly, in violation of constitutional provisions, and his disregard for a Federal High Court ruling that invalidated the passage and signing of the budget.
Additionally, he is accused of authorizing financial withdrawals from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund without the necessary legal backing, an act deemed unconstitutional.
Another charge leveled against him relates to his defiance of a resolution passed by the House, which had placed restrictions on government expenditures.
Despite judicial pronouncements affirming that the budget had not been lawfully presented or passed, the governor allegedly continued to approve expenditures.
The Supreme Court, in a ruling on February 28, 2025, ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold funds from the Rivers State Government until an appropriation law was properly enacted.
The governor is also accused of obstructing the legislature from performing its constitutional duties.
One of the most serious allegations is that he personally oversaw the demolition of the Assembly complex on December 13, 2023, an act carried out despite an existing court order protecting the institution.
Judicial authorities have strongly condemned this action, with the Supreme Court describing it as a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
Furthermore, the impeachment notice highlights multiple instances where the governor allegedly made appointments without seeking legislative approval.
This includes the appointment of commissioners, members of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement, and officials of the Local Government Service Commission, all without the required legislative screening and confirmation.
Some of these appointments were reportedly in direct violation of court rulings, which had instructed the governor to recognize the Assembly leadership under Speaker Martin Chike Amaewhule.
Another accusation against him is the deliberate withholding of salaries and operational funds meant for the Assembly.
According to the impeachment notice, salaries of certain lawmakers had not been paid since April 2024, and the governor allegedly froze funds allocated to the legislature, effectively crippling its activities.
This action was in direct violation of a Federal High Court ruling that had restrained him from withholding the Assembly’s financial entitlements.
The same judgment also prohibited him from withholding the salary of the Clerk of the Assembly, an order he is accused of disregarding.
In summarizing the charges, the lawmakers argue that Governor Fubara has failed to govern in accordance with constitutional provisions and his oath of office.
They cite the Supreme Court’s rebuke of his actions, emphasizing that fear of impeachment does not justify attacks on the legislature, the constitution, or the government structure of Rivers State.
The court strongly criticized his actions, stating that political disagreements cannot serve as a basis for undermining the rule of law.
With these serious allegations laid out, the impeachment process has begun.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
