A Constitutional Lawyer, Professor Richard Wokocha, has faulted claims by retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas that the Rivers State House of Assembly lacks the authority to investigate him over financial matters during his tenure as Sole Administrator of the state.
Speaking with our correspondent via telephone, Prof. Nwokocha stated that although the appointment of Ibas was unconstitutional, it does not exempt him from legislative scrutiny.
“He was appointed to spend River’s money, and Rivers Assembly is the custodian of Rivers state assets so they have the right to probe and investigate how River’s state assets were spent,” Prof. Wokocha said.
He stressed that no institution, including the Presidency or the National Assembly, has the constitutional power to shield the former Sole Administrator from being held accountable by the state legislature.
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“The constitution does not give the national assembly and presidency the power to prevent the house of assembly from doing its work, they have the power to proceed, they also have the mandate to proceed, they actually have to be the ones to investigate how money budgeted for Rivers state is spent,” he added.
The Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier resolved to investigate the state’s finances during the six-month period in which Ibok-Ette Ibas served as Sole Administrator, a controversial appointment that had drawn wide criticism. The Assembly says it is acting within its constitutional oversight responsibilities.
Prof. Wokocha’s remarks reinforce the Assembly’s position on accountability.
