The Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over alleged gross misconduct.
The move was initiated during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule. The Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally presented and read the notice of allegations against the governor on the floor of the House.
The impeachment process is anchored on Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to the notice, Governor Fubara is accused of seven counts of gross misconduct, including the alleged unauthorized demolition of the House of Assembly Complex, extra-budgetary expenditures, and the withholding of funds meant for the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission.
Other allegations include the governor’s alleged refusal to comply with Supreme Court judgments relating to the financial autonomy of the state legislature.
A total of 26 lawmakers signed the notice of allegations, which they maintained was in line with constitutional provisions. Speaker Amaewhule announced that the notice would be formally served on Governor Fubara within the next seven days.
“We will see this impeachment process through,” Amaewhule declared, describing the governor as “a mistake for Rivers State and a threat to democracy.” He added that if the House fails to uphold the constitution, its members would have no option but to resign.
