The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has warned that the impeachment plot against Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara must not be used as a political weapon.
In a statement signed by Sunny Dada, chairman, and Dr. Christian Onyegbule, secretary-general of its Rivers State chapter, the group stated impeachment is a grave constitutional mechanism meant for accountability, not political retaliation.
While noting that it had earlier asked the governor to present the budget, the CLO cautioned that any impeachment procedure must carefully adhere to due process, provide a fair hearing, and take into account the state’s overall political climate.
“Rivers State must not be sacrificed on the altar of political power struggles,” the group warned, urging dialogue and restraint by all parties.
Chronicle NG reports that the political crisis in Rivers State erupted on Thursday, when the Rivers State House of Assembly launched new impeachment proceedings against Fubara and Odu, giving them seven days to reply to claims of severe misconduct.
At the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, the House stated that the action was spurred by the governor’s apparent reluctance to bring the 2026 Appropriation Bill for legislative consideration.
The 27 members who supported the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused the governor and his deputy of purposefully undermining the Assembly’s constitutional responsibilities, labeling the alleged violations as impeachable offenses.
The impeachment process began with a motion moved by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, and seconded by Silvernus Nwankwo.
Earlier, Major Jack, the Majority Leader, read a formal notice of charges of gross misconduct against the governor, citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Jack made seven allegations against Fubara, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds intended for the Assembly Service Commission, refusing to comply with Supreme Court rulings on the legislature’s financial autonomy, and seizing salaries and allowances of state lawmakers and the Assembly Service Commission, among others.
Following the governor’s notice, Deputy Leader Linda Stewart issued a notice of gross misconduct to the deputy governor.
The deputy governor is accused of reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstructing the House from carrying out its constitutional duties, conspiring to allow unauthorized individuals to occupy government offices without legislative screening, seeking budgetary approval from an unauthorized group rather than the legitimate House of Assembly, and seizing salaries and allowances intended for the Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
Amaewhule stated that the alleged misconducts were largely centered on the presentation of the budget and spending outside the state’s appropriation law.
“It is important to note that the particulars of these allegations relate mainly to the presentation of the budget and spending outside the appropriation law,” the Speaker said.
“But we are not here to debate the notice. The notice has been served, and the impeachment process has commenced.
“In any case, the governor does not even want to present any budget. If he wanted to, he would have done so long ago. Siminalayi Fubara is a mistake. Rivers State has never had it this bad.”
Amaewhule alleged that Rivers State was the only sub-national government in Nigeria yet to present a 2026 appropriation bill.
“In the entirety of Nigeria, Siminalayi Fubara and Prof. Ngozi Odu are the only people at the sub-national level who have not presented an appropriation bill for 2026,” he said.
“I doubt if anywhere in Africa you will find a government that has not presented an appropriation bill in this 21st century.”
The Speaker also alleged that even when the Assembly approved spending in 2023, the governor abandoned the approved budget and awarded contracts outside the appropriation law.
“He approved spending in 2023, but he abandoned the budget and started awarding contracts outside the law.
Our schools are not functioning properly, roads are bad, hospitals are not fully operational, and our youths are unemployed,” Amaewhule alleged.
“So, in other words, what the governor is doing with our funds, funds of Rivers people, the poor Rivers men and women who have paid taxes, is to change our money to dollars and give it to Rivers people to stop us from surviving the constitution.
“For how long are we going to allow this to happen? Our schools are not functioning. Our schools are not functioning the way they should. The Rivers people are suffering. Our youth are not being employed. Our roads are bad.
“Our hospitals and health centers are not fully functional. A lot of them are having issues. Rather than follow through with the process, what the governor has decided to do is to save money and change it to dollars to subvert the will of the Rivers people and to subvert the constitution.”
Amaewhule described the governor as a threat to democracy and proclaimed that “enough is enough,” insisting that the law take its course.
He said that President Bola Tinubu intervened multiple times to encourage the governor to change direction.
“Mr. President has done his best. He gave the governor a second chance, and another one, but the governor refused to change,” he said.
“Let the law take its course. The law has to take its course. We thank Mr. President. He is a father. Mr. President has done his best. Mr. President has spoken to the governor. In my presence, Mr. President told the governor, ‘I’m giving you a second chance.’ The governor refused.
“He gave him another one, but the governor refused. How many times? Distinguished colleagues, I thank you for your contributions. Prayers have been properly conveyed by members.
“Distinguished colleagues, by this motion, this house thereby condemns the refusal of the governor of Rivers State to present the 026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Appropriation Bill 2026 in line with the Rivers State laws and the constitution, respectively, as well as reckless spending from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State.
“On this, the house is declaring that the house will not proceed with any action for presentation of the 026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Appropriation Bill 2026 until the investigation of gross misconduct levelled against the governor has been completed,” Amaewhule declared.
He said a formal communication will be made to the governor so he can respond to the allegations within seven days.
“I am in receipt of the letter, and in pursuance of the 1999 constitution, I will ensure that the letter is forwarded to the governor within seven days,” he noted.
The Speaker further stated that the House would suspend consideration of the 2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Appropriation Bill until the impeachment investigation is concluded.
He announced that a formal communication would be forwarded to the governor, giving him seven days to respond to the allegations, in line with constitutional provisions.
The House thereafter adjourned proceedings until January 15.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
