The political tension between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly has deepened following the lawmakers’ rejection of a N100,000 Christmas gift credited to their accounts.
Gatekeepers News reports that the development was confirmed in a statement issued by Enemi Alabo George, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Petitions.
According to the statement, each lawmaker received a bank alert of N100,000, which the assembly said was sent on the directive of Governor Fubara.
The legislators, who are loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, described the payment as unapproved and unsolicited and said it did not follow due legislative procedure. They said steps had been taken to return the money to the Rivers State Government.
The statement reads, “Upon discovery of these unsolicited and unapproved transfers, Honourable Members of the House took immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government.”
The assembly stressed that as a constitutionally recognised institution, it is bound by law to ensure that all public spending follows due process.
The statement added, “As an institution established by law and guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rivers state house of assembly maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval.”
The lawmakers further accused Governor Fubara of repeatedly withdrawing funds from the state’s consolidated revenue account without approval since assuming office in 2023.
They claimed such actions were carried out despite earlier warnings from the House, a Supreme Court judgment, and constitutional provisions on separation of powers.
The lawmakers said, “The Governor, since assumption of office in 2023 has consistently drawn from the consolidated revenue accounts of Rivers State without legislative approval despite repeated warnings from the House, judgement of the Supreme Court and in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers.”
The assembly also issued a warning to civil servants and government officials, accusing some of working with the Governor to bypass constitutional procedures.
The statement added, “Therefore, with the leave of Mr Speaker and the entire House, I seize this medium to once again draw the attention of all staff of the Rivers State Government who connive with the Governor and others to contravene the Constitution and laws of Rivers State to the fact that we have become aware of their unlawful conducts.”
The disagreement is the latest episode in the ongoing standoff between Governor Fubara and the Rivers lawmakers, which has persisted since the lifting of the emergency rule on September 18.
In recent weeks, the assembly has repeatedly accused the Governor of spending public funds without legislative approval.
