The political crisis in Rivers State deepened on Thursday as the State House of Assembly formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, citing allegations of gross misconduct.
The move was initiated during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, where the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read a notice of allegations against the governor.
Invoking Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Jack outlined seven grounds of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara.
The accusations include the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, extra-budgetary expenditure without legislative approval, and the alleged withholding of statutory funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission.
The notice also accused the governor of refusing to comply with Supreme Court rulings affirming the financial autonomy of state legislatures.
According to the Majority Leader, 26 members of the House appended their signatures to the impeachment notice, meeting the constitutional threshold required to activate the process.
Following the presentation, Speaker Amaewhule announced that the notice would be formally served on the governor within seven days, in line with constitutional provisions governing impeachment proceedings.
Shortly after, the Deputy Leader of the House, Linda Stewart, presented a separate notice of alleged gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The allegations against Odu include reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds, obstruction of the House from performing its constitutional duties, and alleged connivance in allowing unauthorised individuals to occupy government offices without due screening by the legitimate House of Assembly.
She was also accused of seeking budgetary approval from individuals or groups other than the constitutionally recognised Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as allegedly seizing salaries and allowances due to lawmakers and the Assembly Service Commission.
With the formal presentation of the notices, the impeachment process against both the governor and his deputy has entered a critical constitutional phase, setting the stage for further political and legal confrontation in the state.
