Port Harcourt Rivers State: The Rivers State House of Assembly faction led by Martin Amaewhule in today’s plenary session has given the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara a 7-day ultimatum to resubmit the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the legally recognized state House of Assembly.
The order was issued during the first session of the pro-Wike House on Monday after a hiatus of several months.
The lawmakers gave the ultimatum during their first sitting after an appeal court in Abuja vacated a state high Court injunction that restrained them from functioning as State lawmakers.
Meanwhile, a parallel session is being held by the House faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, has given the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara a 7-day deadline to resubmit the 2024 Appropriation Bill..
Amid the raging political crisis rocking Rivers State, 25 state house of assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, led by factional speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule had on Monday issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill for scrutinazation and passage into law
The Martin Amaewhuele led faction lawmakers said the Governor was yet to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill (budget) of the State to the duly constituted State Assembly in line with the provisions of Section 121 of the Constitution and in compliance with the judgment of Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court
They also stated that the Governor had breached Section 192(2) of the Constitution when he swore-in members of the State Executive Council as Commissioners, adding that Governor Fubara also breached section 7 (1) of the Constitution and the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023, after he inaugurated caretaker committees to manage the affairs of the 23 Local Government Councils in the State after the end of the tenures of the elected chairmen,
Factional speaker of the house, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule in a statement signed by his Special Assistant On Media, Martins Wachukwu on Monday, disclosed that the purported screening and confirmation of Commissioner – nominees for appointment, Caretaker committees and other approvals made by the Victor Oko-Jombo led assembly were declared null and void by the recent Court of Appeal Judgment.
The Factional lawmakers however called on Gov. Fubara to do the needful without further delay as these constitutional breaches constitute gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Recall that Governor Fubara had in December 2023 presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the faction of the House loyal to him, when his present Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie was Speaker
Former pro Fubara speaker of the Rivers state house of Assembly Hon. Edison Ehie approved and passed the Appropriation Bill which Governor Fubara signed into law, saying that it aimed to promote economic development, inclusive growth, and address Socio-economic inequality in the state.
In another development, the state assembly aligned with Governor Fubara screened and approved Barrister Emmanuel Onengiye-Ofori Frank-Fubara as a Commissioner-designate on Monday.
This followed Governor Fubara’s letter to Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, the speaker aligned with him, requesting the house to confirm Barrister Frank-Fubara as a Commissioner for the Rivers State Executive Council.
The screening and confirmation of the commissioner-designate were announced in a statement signed by Dr. G. M. GIllis-West, Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The screening and confirmation followed a letter sent by Governor Fubara to Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, factional speaker loyal to him, requesting that the house confirm Barrister Frank-Fubara as a Commissioner to serve in the Rivers State Executive Council.
During a plenary session at the temporary legislative facility in Port Harcourt, Rt Hon. Oko-Jumbo announced that Governor Fubara had requested confirmation, as per Section 192 of the 1999 Constitution, to swear in a nominee to the State Executive Council.
During his screening, Barrister Frank-Fubara disclosed his hometown as Abonnema Town in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area. He noted a 26-year career in law, managing his private firm. Additionally, he highlighted his public sector experience on various boards and committees, expressing dedication to fulfilling his duties with utmost commitment if confirmed and sworn in.
The House later reverted to the business of plenary where they opened debate on two bills: the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency Bill, 2024; and the Rivers State Transport Company Reform Bill, 2024.
With votes taken, the House passed two bills through a second reading, and committed them to committee stage to allow for further detailed examination with instruction to conduct public hearings and report outcome to the House in the next two weeks.
