Assembly wants EFCC, ICPC to probe RSIEC chairman

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly at their 134th legislative sitting, yesterday, resolved to call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate  Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd), Chairman, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), on the financial activities of the commission, being the Chief Accounting Officer.

The legislators took the resolution in their determined efforts to instill probity and accountability in public institutions in the State, and as a follow-up to the Warrant of Arrest earlier issued on the RSIEC chairman and  four other  members of the Commission.

The request followed a motion sponsored by 26  lawmakers and moved by the member representing Okrika Constituency, Linda Somiari-Stewart.

In the motion, she urged the House to condemn the refusal of the Chairman of the Commission to subject himself to investigation by the House; invite the EFCC and the ICPC to investigate the Commission’s Chairman and members; and invite the Commission’s bankers to produce the bank statements of the Commission from January 1, 2024 till date.

Commenting on the motion, the Speaker, Martin  Amaewhule, stated  that by virtue of the provisions of Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, the House is empowered to conduct investigation on any person, Ministry, Department and Agency within its  Legislative powers.

When the Speaker put the question, the House voted in the affirmative, adopting all the prayers of the motion, emphasising the call on the EFCC and the ICPC to investigate the Chairman and other commissioners of the Commission.

In another development,  the House gave second  reading to three bills, and debated the general principles of the bills, harping on the merits inherent therein.

The Speaker,  Amaewhule, commended members for their robust debate and committed the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, which is a Bill for a Law to grant the Rivers State House of Assembly the power, privileges and immunity to carry out its legislative duties, to the House Committee on Rules and Business.

Similarly, the RSIEC Bill, which is a Bill for a Law to repeal the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018, and to re-enact it to provide for the establishment, composition and functions of the Commission, was referred to the House Committee on Commissions and Agencies.

The Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025, a Bill for a Law to repeal the existing Rivers State Local Government Laws of 2018, 2023 and 2024, and to re- enact a new  Local Government Law was committed to the House Committee on Local Government.