…As lawmakers serve Fubara, deputy impeachment notice
By Caleb Ishaya
All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has accused State House of Assembly of “…an obvious hangover from strifes that occurred within the PDP” as the Assembly moves yesterday to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
The Rivers APC, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Darlington Nwauju, rejected the move saying “Our position as at today on this matter is that we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our governor and his deputy.
“It will be totally untenable for our party to keep quiet when an obvious hangover from strifes that occurred within the PDP are allowed to resurface in our great party”.
Darlington also said that the APC “will do everything possible to ensure that the Government of Rivers State, which is an APC government, is not destabilised”.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the impeachment notice was yesterday issued to the governor and his deputy over alleged misconduct.
The impeachment move was initiated during a session presided over by the Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Martins Amaewhule.
During plenary, the Majority Leader, Honourable Major Jack, formally read the “Notice of Allegations”levelled against the governor before the lawmakers.
Invoking Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Jack outlined seven allegations of gross misconduct against Fubara. Among the claims are the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary expenditures, and the withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission.
Other accusations against Fubara and Odu include the governor’s alleged refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature, actions lawmakers say undermined the independence of the Assembly.
It was gathered that 26 members of the Assembly signed the notice backing the impeachment move.
Shortly after the notice against the governor was presented, Deputy Leader of the Assembly, Honourable Linda Stewart, laid on the floor of chamber a separate notice of allegations of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu.
Allegations against Odu include Alleged reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, as well as actions said to have obstructed the House from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution.
In addition she was accused of allegedly conniving to allow unauthorised persons to occupy government offices without proper screening by the recognised House of Assembly. Further claims allege that the deputy governor sought budgetary approvals from another group instead of the legitimate Assembly, and was involved in the seizure of salaries and allowances due to the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
