December 30, (THEWILL) — The political rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly has deepened following the lawmakers’ decision to return an unsolicited ₦100,000 transferred into their personal accounts.
The Governor had recently approved a ₦100,000 Christmas bonus for civil servants on the state payroll.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the Martins Amaewhule-led 10th Rivers State House of Assembly disclosed that members received the funds without any legislative request or prior notification.
The statement, signed by Enemi Alabo George, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions, and Complaints, clarified that the Assembly took immediate steps to refund the money to the state government upon discovering the unauthorized transfers.
“The House, as an institution established by law and guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, insists that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval,” the lawmakers stated.
“Any spending outside this framework violates constitutional provisions and the principle of separation of powers.”
The Assembly further accused the Governor of making repeated unauthorized withdrawals from the state’s consolidated revenue accounts since assuming office in 2023.
They noted that these actions persist despite prior warnings from the legislature and relevant judicial pronouncements, including Supreme Court rulings that restored the Amaewhule-led faction earlier this year following a period of emergency rule.
The lawmakers cautioned state officials against participating in financial actions that contravene the Constitution, describing such conduct as unlawful.
Reassuring the people of Rivers State, the Assembly pledged to continue upholding its constitutional duties to ensure transparency, accountability, and the protection of public funds.
THEWILL reports that this latest friction occurs against a backdrop of intense political maneuvering, including Governor Fubara’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a minor cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday that saw Christopher Green redeployed as the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
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