The political crisis in Rivers State has escalated on Thursday as the State House of Assembly formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
The move was announced during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule.
At the sitting, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations against the governor, citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution as the legal basis for the action.
READ ALSO: President Tinubu Declares State of Emergency in Rivers, Suspends Governor Fubara, State Assembly
According to Jack, the governor is facing seven allegations of gross misconduct. Among them are the alleged demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending without legislative approval, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to comply with a Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to the legislature.
The notice of allegations was signed by 26 members of the House, meeting the constitutional requirement to initiate impeachment proceedings. Following the presentation, Speaker Amaewhule directed that the notice be formally served on Governor Fubara within seven days.
Moments later, the Deputy Leader of the House, Linda Stewart, also presented a separate notice of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu.
The allegations against her include reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstruction of the House of Assembly from carrying out its constitutional duties, and conniving to allow unauthorised individuals to occupy government offices without proper legislative screening.
Further accusations allege that the deputy governor sought budgetary approval from a group other than the recognised Rivers State House of Assembly and was involved in the seizure of salaries and allowances due to lawmakers and the Assembly Service Commission.
With the commencement of the impeachment process, both the governor and his deputy are expected to be served with the notices and given the opportunity to respond, in line with constitutional provisions.
The development marks a new phase in the deepening political tension between the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State.