The Rivers State government has dismissed claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, have been served an impeachment notice.
According to the government, there has been no formal communication from the State House of Assembly regarding allegations of gross misconduct.
The Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule and dominated by 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, issued a notice on March 14, accusing Fubara of reckless spending, obstructing the Assembly, and making appointments without legislative approval. The letter, signed by 26 lawmakers, also outlined allegations against Deputy Governor Odu.
On Monday, Speaker Amaewhule announced that the notice had been formally transmitted to Fubara and Odu, citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires that impeachment allegations be signed by at least one-third of the House members. He stated that the governor and his deputy were expected to respond within 14 days.
However, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Barrister Joseph Johnson, dismissed the move, insisting that the letter was not addressed to the governor. Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Johnson criticized the Assembly for blocking Fubara’s efforts to implement the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the state’s political crisis.
He added that the lawmakers’ actions were worsening the suffering of civil servants and pensioners due to the state’s federal allocation being withheld.
