By Kingston Magare
Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Ngozi Odu has been served an impeachment notice by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Rivers House led by Martin Amaewhule issued the notice Monday accusing governor Fubara and his deputy of misconduct. Twenty-six members of the House cited “Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other existing laws,” for their action.
According to the lawmakers, governor Fubara spent public funds, appointed individuals into government positions without approval of the House. They also alleged that governor Fubara withheld the salaries and allowances meant for the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as seizing the salary of the Clerk, Emeka Amadi.
The lawmakers also accused Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu of “conniving and supporting the illegal appointment of persons to government positions without the required screening and confirmation.”
Speaker Amaewhule notified the governor of the development and gave him 14 days to respond to the allegations.
“In doing this, your attention is drawn to the provisions of Section 188(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which provides thus: ‘Within 14 days of the presentation of the notice to the Speaker of the House of Assembly (whether or not any statement made by holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice) the House of Assembly shall resolve by motion, without any debate whether or not the allegation shall be investigated’,” the speaker said in a letter sent to Fubara.
