Rivers Lawmakers Return N100,000 ‘Christmas Gift’, Accuse Fubara of Illegal Spending

 

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have rejected and returned a N100,000 Christmas gift allegedly sent to them on the directive of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing the payment as “unsolicited, unapproved and unconstitutional.”

The lawmakers, who are aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said the funds were credited to their accounts without legislative approval and promptly returned to the Rivers State Government.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Petitions, Enemi Alabo George, said the action of the governor amounted to a breach of due process and a violation of the Constitution.

According to the statement, each lawmaker received a credit alert of N100,000, which the House described as an unlawful expenditure from public funds.

“Upon discovery of these unsolicited and unapproved transfers, Honourable Members of the House took immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government,” George said.

He stressed that the Rivers State House of Assembly, as a constitutionally established institution, would not condone any expenditure of public funds outside legislative approval.

“As an institution guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rivers State House of Assembly maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval,” the statement read.

The lawmakers further accused Governor Fubara of persistently withdrawing funds from the state’s consolidated revenue account without the consent of the legislature since assuming office in 2023.

They claimed that such actions were carried out despite repeated warnings from the House, as well as existing Supreme Court judgments affirming the principles of separation of powers.

“The Governor has consistently drawn from the consolidated revenue account of Rivers State without legislative approval, in defiance of the Constitution and the principles of separation of powers,” the statement added.

The House also issued a warning to civil servants and government officials alleged to be collaborating with the governor to circumvent constitutional procedures, urging them to desist from unlawful conduct.

The development marks another escalation in the lingering political crisis between Governor Fubara and the Rivers State lawmakers, which has persisted since the lifting of the emergency rule in the state on September 18.

In recent weeks, the Assembly has repeatedly accused the governor of engaging in unauthorized spending, deepening the rift between the executive and legislative arms of government in the state.