Rivers Assembly refers Fubara, Deputy to Chief Judge over gross misconduct allegations

The Rivers State House of Assembly has resolved to ask the state’s Chief Judge to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.

The resolution was adopted during plenary on Friday after 25 lawmakers voted in support of forwarding the matter to the Chief Judge, in accordance with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Lawmakers accused the governor and his deputy of several infractions, including alleged budgetary violations, failure to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the assembly, unauthorised spending of public funds, and the withholding of statutory allocations meant for the legislature, among other claims.

Presiding over the session, Speaker Martins Amaewhule instructed the clerk of the house to formally notify the Chief Judge within the constitutionally required timeframe to enable the constitution of a seven-member investigative panel to examine the allegations.

The resolution represents the next formal stage in the impeachment process, which began on January 8 when the assembly served notices on Governor Fubara and his deputy. The move followed the reading of gross misconduct allegations against the governor by Major Jack, leader of the assembly, with the charges reportedly endorsed by 26 lawmakers.

A majority of the legislators are said to be aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who has openly opposed Fubara’s re-election bid. Wike has accused the governor of violating a peace agreement reached before President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule earlier imposed on Rivers State.