The Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly has accused Governor Siminialayi Fubara of multiple breaches of constitutional provisions. In a strongly worded letter dated July 8, 2024, addressed to Governor Fubara, the Assembly highlighted several grievances.
Firstly, the House pointed out Governor Fubara's failure to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill before the Assembly, as required by Section 121(1) of the 1999 Constitution. This omission, according to the Assembly, prevents the state government from legally accessing funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, following a recent court judgment reinforcing this requirement.
According to The PUNCH reports, the House said, "The Rivers State Government under your watch is now barred from spending funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state. The House hereby gives you the opportunity to present same within seven days from the date of this resolution.”
Pro-Wike Rivers Assembly Members
Secondly, the Assembly accused Governor Fubara of improperly inaugurating members of the Rivers State Executive Council as commissioners, allegedly in violation of constitutional provisions (Section 192(2)) and recent judicial directives.
Further, the Assembly criticized the governor for appointing unelected individuals to oversee local government affairs, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Constitution and the state's local government laws, which had been the subject of recent legal disputes.
The letter emphasized that these actions by Governor Fubara are seen as a disregard for constitutional provisions, existing laws, and court rulings, amounting to what the Assembly described as "gross misconduct and abuse of office." The Assembly called on Governor Fubara to rectify these alleged breaches promptly and operate within the bounds of the law, cautioning against further non-compliance with legal and judicial mandates.