The Rivers State House of Assembly has initiated an impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, after serving them a notice of alleged gross misconduct.
The notice, reportedly issued in line with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, was signed by members of the assembly and confirmed by Martins Wachukwu, media aide to Speaker Martin Amaewhule.
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“In compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and other extant laws, we, the undersigned members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, hereby forward to you a Notice of Gross Misconduct by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State in the performance of the functions of her office,” the notice stated.
Although the assembly had previously dismissed claims of an impeachment plot against Fubara, speculation about moves to remove him from office has persisted.
The issuance of a gross misconduct notice marks the first step in an impeachment process. According to the constitution, at least one-third of the lawmakers must sign the notice before it is formally presented to the Speaker.
Once served, the governor and deputy governor will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations, after which the assembly will decide whether to proceed with an investigation. If a two-thirds majority supports the motion, a panel of seven individuals will be appointed to examine the allegations.
Should the panel find them guilty of gross misconduct, the assembly can remove the governor and deputy governor with a two-thirds majority vote.
While the notice is a significant step, impeachment is not automatic, as the process allows the accused officials to defend themselves before any final decision is made.
