Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, currently faces a political storm following allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him by the state House of Assembly.
The documents obtained by this online newspaper on March 17, were signed by 26 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The accusations, outlined in a detailed document obtained by westernmirror.com.ng, cover a range of alleged constitutional violations, including unauthorized financial activities, obstruction of the legislative arm of government, illegal appointments, and withholding of funds meant for the Rivers State House of Assembly.
According to the documents, Governor Fubara was accused of failing to present the Rivers State Appropriation Bill for 2024 to the House of Assembly, as required by Section 121 of the Nigerian Constitution.
The documents recalled that a Federal High Court ruling (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2023) had earlier declared the passage and signing of the 2024 budget as void, and ordered the governor to properly present the bill to the Assembly, an order he allegedly ignored.
Further claims indicate that the governor allegedly authorized withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund without a duly passed appropriation law, thereby, violating Sections 120 and 122 of the Constitution.
The House in its documents stated that a Supreme Court ruling on February 28, 2025 (Suit No. SC/CV/1174/2024), reinforced the earlier judgment, ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Accountant General of the Federation to halt funds disbursement to the Rivers State Government until a proper appropriation law is enacted.
The accusations also allege that Governor Fubara obstructed the functioning of the Rivers State House of Assembly by personally supervising the demolition of the Assembly Complex on December 13, 2023.
This act, according to court rulings, violated existing orders to preserve the institution and has been allegedly condemned.
The lawmakers noted that Justice J.K. Omotosho, in a Federal High Court ruling (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1613/2013), described the demolition as a “devious means” to prevent the legitimate Assembly from performing its duties.
Governor Fubara is further accused of making numerous appointments without the proper screening and confirmation by the House of Assembly, as required by the Constitution. The alleged appointees include commissioners, members of the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement, and the Local Government Service Commission.
The lawmakers disclosed in the documents that Court judgments had explicitly restrained the governor from making such appointments without the approval of the House, yet the accusations claim that he continued to appoint officials unlawfully, thereby, undermining legislative authority.
Another major allegation in the documents is the withholding of salaries and allowances meant for House members and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Emeka Amadi.
Furthermore, the lawmakers stated that the Federal High Court had ordered that these payments must not be withheld, but the accusations suggest that the governor disregarded this directive, further deepening the rift between the executive and legislative arms of government.
As of time of filing this report, Governor Fubara has yet to issue a formal response to the allegations. As the crisis unfolds, the fate of governance in Rivers State hangs in the balance, with constitutional experts warning of the long-term implications for democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.