The Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has invited the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission, ICPC, to investigate the activities of the Rivers State Independent Electoral, RSIEC’s Chairman. Justice Adolphus Enebeli.
This was discloed by the Speaker of the Assembly, Amaewhule during the plenary at the Assembly quarters complex in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
According to him, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), should be investigated for alleged misappropriation of the Commission’s fund.
The Speaker noted that it is the duty of the Rivers State Assembly, that enacted the State Independent Electoral Commission law and set up the State Independent Electoral Commission, to exercise oversight over it.
He said, “It is not only constitutional, but it is the convention the world over.”
Amaewhule noted that the RSIEC Chairman and the Commissioners came before the House of Assembly for screening and confirmation. This is as he admitted that they were not going to live above the Constitution or the Rivers’ law.
“And it is usually the practice that questions are put forth to them. Asking them if they will come before the House when questions are needed to be asked.
“And they also confirmed to us that they will come before the Assembly to answer questions when necessary.
“Today, we are calling on them and they are refusing to honour the summons of this August Assembly.’’
According to the Speaker, the House is vested with the powers in Section 128 of the State’s Constitution to invite the Commission for investigation. He insisted that the Chairman and members of the Commission are liable to answer questions put forward to them.
Speaking on the invitation of the anti corruption agencies by the House, Amaewhule said that it had become necessary.
He said the House to invited the EFCC and ICPC to assist it, in pursuit of its investigative powers, to find out how funds were spent by the Commission.
“The anti-crime Commission’s should also investigate how public funds were expended by the Chairman, who is the chief accounting officer of the commission, in a manner that was unknown to the Assembly.
“There was no approval, no budgetary allocation and no appropriation law. And billions of public funds went down the drain in futile actions.
“It’s important that they come and bring themselves forward for this investigation. And that’s exactly what this motion has said,” he explained.
The Speaker noted that the motion and the prayers were voted in favour by the 26 member against nil.
He said, “The House did not condemn the refusal of the RSIEC’s Chairman and others who failed to subject themselves to investigation by it.
“The House had agreed to invite the bankers to the RSIEC to produce the Commission’s bank statements from January, 1, 2024 till date.
Amaewhule stated that the power to also investigate the government of Rivers State is rested on the Assembly by virtue of the provisions of Section 128.