By Oke Akpurugo, Port Harcourt
Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, has given Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, a 14 – day ultimatum to respond to allegation of misconduct brought against them by 26 state lawmakers.
This comes shortly after the 26 members of the assembly made the misconduct allegation against Fubara and deputy in a notice sent to the Speaker Amaewhule, on Monday.
The Speaker who received the notice, forwarded it to Fubara, pointing out that the allegations were raised by “not less than one-third (1/3) of the membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
He then asked the embattled governor to attend to the allegations, citing Section 188(3) of the Constitution to demand response from him within 14 days.
The cited portion states: “Within 14 days of the presentation of the notice to the Speaker of the House of Assembly (whether or not any statement made by the 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.”
Amaewhule, who extended his “esteemed regards” to the Governor, also advised him to act accordingly.
The lawmakers anchored their action on “Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other existing laws.”
They accused Fubara of several offences including reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstructing the Assembly’s activities, and appointing individuals to government positions without the required screening and confirmation.
Other allegations include withholding salaries, allowances and funds 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.”
