July 17, (THEWILL) – A faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, has nullified what it described as “unfounded resolutions” made by the Pro-Wike lawmakers restricting Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s access to Rivers’ Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The Speaker, Oko-Jumbo, who is loyal to Governor Fubara, declared on the floor of the House, on Tuesday, that Amaewhule and 24 others lacked the legal capacity and moral grounds to restrict the governor’s spending power.
THEWILL earlier reported that the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers, on Monday, unanimously condemned the governor’s spending from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund without an Appropriation Law, despite repeated warnings.
The pro-Wike lawmakers, while expressing disappointment, stated that the governor’s actions demonstrate a disregard for the Constitution and judicial rulings and therefore resolved to write to the governor, notifying him of the immediate shutdown of all expenditures from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
They, however, said that they will inform the Federal Government, relevant agencies, banks, and local and foreign donor agencies of the development, advising them to halt transactions with the Rivers State Government until the 2024 Appropriation Law issues are resolved.
But Oko-Jumbo insisted that Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers are former members of the House, having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023, arguing that their seats were consequently declared vacant by former Speaker Edison Ehie, citing Section 109, Subsections 1(g) and 2.
He emphasised that consequent on the constitutional provisions and declaration of their seats vacant, the only recognised 10th Assembly is the one led by him.
According to him, Amaewhule and the 24 others hinged their resolution on Section 122 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers a state governor to continue to make appropriations for six months from the budget of the previous fiscal year, where for any reason he is unable to present appropriation bill to the House.
He stressed that Fubara has since presented the 2024 budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of Edison Ehie and is awaiting the presentation of the medium-term expenditure framework for the next three financial years.
Oko-Jumbo urged the public to disregard and discountenance the “illegal activities” of Amaewhule and others.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expedite action in conducting a by-election to fill their seats.
