Rivers Assembly Accuses Fubara of Creating Illegal Investment Agency, Condemns Appointments

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of unlawfully establishing the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.

The House, which is aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, asserted that the agency and its related appointments lack legal backing.

In a statement released on Thursday by the Speaker’s media aide, Martins Wachukwu, the lawmakers made their position clear.

At its 41st sitting in Port Harcourt, the Assembly stated that no law authorized the creation of the agency, and no formal communication had been made to the House regarding its establishment.

The issue was brought to light by Gerald Oforji, Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, who presented a report on the “purported” inauguration of the agency’s board by Governor Fubara.

The report acknowledged that such an agency could potentially foster a favorable business environment in the state but stressed that no law from the Assembly sanctioned its creation.

The committee noted that if a valid law existed, the governor’s appointees would have been subject to confirmation by the House, as required by procedure.

Members of the House, relying on the committee’s findings, criticized the governor for disregarding governance standards. Speaker Amaewhule strongly condemned Fubara’s actions, deeming the appointments to the unrecognized agency illegal.

Following a vote, the Assembly unanimously condemned the governor’s actions, declaring them both unlawful and questionable.