JUST IN: Rivers Speaker Amaewhule Takes Fresh Action as Assembly Seeks to Impeach Fubara, Deputy

Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, has taken a new step as the Assembly moves forward with impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.

At the 137th Legislative Sitting on Monday, Amaewhule announced that he had officially received a Notice of Allegation of Gross Misconduct against both officials.

The notice, signed by 26 lawmakers, outlined five accusations against the governor and three against his deputy. 

According to the Speaker, the notice was received on March 14, 2025. In line with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, he distributed copies to Assembly members and forwarded them to Fubara and Odu. However, to ensure they were properly informed in case the letters were not acknowledged, the House passed a motion to publish the notice in at least three national newspapers. 

In a separate move, the House also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, over alleged unauthorized spending of public funds. The motion, moved by Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, claimed that large sums of money were spent without proper legislative approval. 

Commenting on the motion, Speaker Amaewhule stated that the House had to involve the EFCC because Governor Fubara had reportedly instructed heads of ministries, departments, and agencies not to honor Assembly invitations. He added that this would not stop the legislature from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities. 

Additionally, the Assembly amended its Standing Orders to allow legislative sessions to take place on any day of the week if necessary. The change ensures that the House can meet at any time in the interest of the state, particularly in emergency situations, as long as it is properly convened by the Speaker. 

The political crisis in Rivers State has worsened due to the deteriorating relationship between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The tensions date back to October 2023, when an earlier attempt to impeach Fubara was made. Not long after Fubara assumed office in May 2023, reports surfaced of a power struggle between him and Wike, who had played a major role in his election.

As Fubara sought to establish his independence, disagreements arose, leading to the impeachment attempt on October 29, 2023. Lawmakers loyal to Wike, led by Speaker Amaewhule, accused Fubara of gross misconduct and financial mismanagement. 

The situation escalated on October 30, 2023, when the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex in Port Harcourt was set on fire by unknown persons. The violence led to clashes between security forces and political supporters. Fubara denied any wrongdoing and called the impeachment attempt a politically motivated move, accusing some lawmakers of being influenced by external forces. 

President Bola Tinubu intervened to calm the situation, leading to a temporary truce. The impeachment move eventually failed as some lawmakers switched allegiance to Fubara. In response, the governor dissolved the Rivers State Executive Council and appointed new commissioners. The crisis deepened, splitting the Assembly into pro-Fubara and pro-Wike factions. 

However, following a recent Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the legitimacy of the Martin Amaewhule-led legislature, tensions in the state have intensified. Reports suggest that Wike is determined to reassert his political control over Rivers State, fueling the renewed impeachment efforts against Governor Fubara and his deputy.