Onyinyechi DURU
The Rivers State House of Assembly, has resolved to call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission to question the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission RSIEC, Retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli on the financial activities of the commission, being the Chief Accounting Officer.
According to the lawmakers, this resolve is a follow up to the warrant of arrest issued on the RSIEC chairman and four other commission.
The decision was reached at their 134th Legislative Sitting, which was made known to TPCN in a release on Wednesday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Martins Wachukwu, on Wednesday.
The request followed a motion sponsored by 26 lawmakers and moved by the Member representing Okrika Constituency, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, urging the House to do the following:
“condemn the refusal of the Chairman of the Commission to subject himself to investigation by the House.
“invite the EFCC and the ICPC to investigate the Commission’s Chairman and members.
“Invite the Commission’s bankers to produce the bank statements of the Commission from 1st January, 2024 till date.”
Commenting on the motion, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule stated that “by virtue of the provisions of Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, the House is empowered to conduct investigation on any person, Ministry, Department and Agency within its legislative powers.”
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When the speaker put the question, the House voted in the affirmative, adopting all the prayers of the motion, emphasising the call on the EFCC and the ICPC to investigate the chairman and other commissioners of the commission.
In another development, the house gave Second Reading to three Bills, and debated the general principles of the Bills, harping on the merits inherent therein.
The statement revealed that, “the Speaker commended members for their debate and committed the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, which is a Bill for a Law to grant the Rivers State House of Assembly the power, privileges and immunity to carry out its legislative duties, to the House Committee on Rules and Business.
“Similarly, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill, which is a Bill for a Law to repeal the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018, and to re- enact it to provide for the establishment, composition and functions of the Commission was referred to the House Committee on Commissions and Agencies.
“While the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025, a Bill for a Law to repeal the existing Rivers State Local Government Laws of 2018, 2023 and 2024, and to re-enact a new Local Government Law was committed to the House Committee on Local Government.”
