Taiwo Popoola
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by its speaker, Martin Amaewhule, has written to Governor Simi Fubara, demanding the sack of all commissioners in the state within 48 hours.
In a letter sighted by Urban Express News Online, the resolution came after the House met on Wednesday.
The Assembly also demanded the sack of other appointees not properly screened by the lawmakers.
Consequently, the Amaewhule-led House ordered Governor Fubara to submit a new list of nominees for appointment as commissioners within 48 hours.
Earlier, the House had issued Fubara an ultimatum to re-present the 2025 Rivers State budget.
However, Fubara, leading the Rivers Government, said in a statement on Monday that it would adhere to the House’s ultimatum regarding the budget re-presentation.
The letter reads in part:
“That your attention should once again be drawn to your illegal appointments of persons to serve in various offices without first forwarding their names for screening and confirmation as required by the 1999 Constitution as amended 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) & (6) as well as Section 195(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“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 O. Beke; Collins Onunwo; Solomon Eke; Peter Medee; Elloka Tasie-Amadi; Basoene Joshua Benibo; Tambari Sydney Gbara and Ovy Orluideye Chinedum Chukwuma without screening and confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly in full compliance with Section 192(2) & (6) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“Others who were sworn in on Tuesday 13th August 2024 are Illamu Arug; Rowland Obed Whyte; Samuel Anyan; Stanley Eke and Austin Emeka Nnadozie while Israel Ngbelu; Evans Bipi; Otarinij Ngubo and Benibo Alabraba were sworn in on Monday 7th October 2024. Emmanuel Frank-Fubara was sworn in on 8th July 2024, amounting to a total number of 19 persons parading themselves and misleading Rivers people that they are Commissioners.”
The development comes after the Supreme Court, in a judgment on Friday delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, ordered the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to resume functions immediately.
