The political atmosphere in Rivers State shifted again on Thursday as members of the State House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The lawmakers accused both officials of gross misconduct.
At a plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read the notice detailing the allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara.
Citing Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, Jack outlined seven allegations leveled against the governor.
Among the accusations were the demolition of the Assembly Complex, engagement in extra-budgetary spending, the alleged withholding of funds allocated to the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the House.
A total of twenty-six members of the Rivers State House of Assembly endorsed the notice.
After the notice was presented, the Speaker stated that it would be officially served on the governor within seven days.
Subsequently, the Deputy Leader of the House, Linda Stewart, presented a separate notice of alleged gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu.
The allegations against Odu included reckless and unconstitutional use of public funds, interference with the House of Assembly in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities as provided by the 1999 Constitution, and collusion to permit unauthorized individuals to occupy offices without proper screening by the duly constituted Assembly.
Additional claims accused her of seeking budgetary approval from another group rather than the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as the alleged seizure of salaries and allowances due to the RSHA and the Assembly Service Commission.
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