The Rivers State House of Assembly has again issued a 48- hour ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to forward names of his commissioners, and other appointees for due screening by the assembly.
In a letter signed by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, and copied to the deputy governor, the speaker listed what he referred to as breaches by Gov. Fubara, advising him to act accordingly in the interest of the state.
Speaker Amaewhule in the letter informed the governor that the House at plenary on March 5, 2025, deliberated on his numerous appointments that require the screening, and confirmation of the nominees by the state House Assembly.
The speaker said the House passed a resolution, to draw the Gov. Fubara’s attention to his “illegal appointments” of persons serving in various offices without them being screened, and confirmed in accordance with the 1999 constitution, and other extant laws.
“That your attention should specifically, be drawn to your failure to forward the name of a nominee for appointment as attorney-general and commissioner for justice, to the Rivers State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation, but chose to parade one Mr. Dagogo Iboroma as a member of the State Executive Council in this regard, thereby contravening Section 192 (2) and (6), as well as Section 195 (1) of the 1999 constitution.
“That we should remind you of another infraction of the constitution, in which you illegally swore in several other persons who are parading themselves as commissioners into the Rivers State Executive Council on Tuesday, 21st May, 2024, namely, Prince Charles Beke, Collins Onunwo, Solomon Eke, Peter Medee, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, Basoene Benibo, Tambari Gbara, and Ovy Chukwuma, without screening and confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly, in full compliance with Section 192 (2) and (6) of the 1999 constitution.
“Others who were sworn in on Tuesday, 13th of August 2024, are Illamu Arugu, Rowland Whyte, Samuel Anya, Samuel Eyiba, and Austin Nnadozie, while Israel Ngbuelu, Evans Bipi, Otamiri Ngubo, and Benibo Alabraba, were sworn in on Monday, 7th October, 2024.
“Emmanuel Frank-Fubara was sworn in on the 8th of July, 2024, amounting to a total number of 19 persons parading themselves, and misleading Rivers people that they are commissioners.
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“That another infraction of the law is the swearing-in of Lawrence Oko-Jaja as chairman, Earnest Ekwe, Mina Ogbanga, Iseleye Amachree, and Adokiye Oyagiri, as members of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement, on Friday, 30th of August, 2024, without screening and confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly, as stipulated in Section 4 (a) of the Rivers State Public Procurement Law, No. 4 of 2008. Others are Gift Alex-Hart, Grace Osaronu, and Selinah Amonieah, as members.
“That the swearing-in of Goodlife Ben as chairman, Emmanuel Jaja, Betty Warmate, Jerome Chimenem, Prince Ohochukwu, Philip Okparaji, and Christian Amadi, as members of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission without screening, and confirmation contrary to Section 44,(3) of the Rivers State Local Government Law, No. 5 of 2018 is another infraction.
“That these appointments by you that are highlighted, and other appointments made, but not mentioned here for want of space, that are not in consonance with extant laws are not only infractions, but are seriously threatening our nascent democracy so, should and shall be remedied,” the letter said
In a related development, the Amaewhule led House also summoned the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), to appear before the House within 48 hours, to explain how he was spending monies that were not duly appropriated in the discharge of his duties.
Amaewhule threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the RSIEC chairman, if he fails to appear before the House at the expiration of the ultimatum.
