The crisis in Rivers State has escalated to a boiling point as the State House of Assembly has formally served a notice of alleged misconduct against Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, effectively initiating the impeachment process against them.
According to a notice obtained from the Assembly on Monday, the lawmakers claim that their decision is in line with the Nigerian Constitution.
The notice stated that the action was “in compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws.”
The notice has given credence to rumors that Gov. Fubara might be impeached, following a Supreme Court ruling that recognized 27 lawmakers loyal to his estranged successor, former Gov. Nyesom Wike.
Persecondnews had reported that Wike, during a media chat on March 12, said Fubara should face impeachment if found guilty of misconduct, in accordance with the law.
He said: “Politics is not play. If he has done something to be impeached, let them impeach him. It is not a criminal offence.”
Persecondnews recalls that Gov. Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, have been embroiled in a dispute since Fubara took office.
Fubara alleged that Wike seeks to control the state’s resources, while Wike claims that Fubara reneged on their agreement, which was brokered by President Bola Tinubu.
The crisis escalated to the point where Fubara ceased working with 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike in December 2023, after they defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He presented the 2024 budget to a faction of the House led by Edison Ehie, on December 13, 2023.
After many legal back-and-forth, the Supreme Court on February 28, ordered the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the House and other elected members to resume legislative duties immediately without any hindrance.
Details later…
Author
Leave a comment