Rivers lawmakers demand EFCC probe of RSIEC chairman

DDM News

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, has called for an investigation into the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

The lawmakers urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the agency.

According to Diaspora digital media (DDM) they alleged that Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), the RSIEC chairman, mismanaged public funds meant for the commission’s activities.

Amaewhule made this demand during a plenary session held at the Assembly quarters complex in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

He emphasized that the House of Assembly has constitutional powers to exercise oversight functions over the commission’s financial transactions.

The Speaker reminded the House that the RSIEC was established by a law passed by the state legislature.

He stated that oversight of the commission’s activities is part of the Assembly’s responsibilities.

“It is not only constitutional, but it is the convention the world over,” Amaewhule said.

He explained that Justice Enebeli and other RSIEC commissioners had appeared before the Assembly during their screening and confirmation hearings.

During that session, they promised to submit to legislative scrutiny whenever required.

The Speaker expressed disappointment that the commission’s leadership had failed to honor the Assembly’s summons for questioning.

“Today, we are calling on them, and they are refusing to honor the summons of this August Assembly,” he stated.

Amaewhule stressed that Section 128 of the Nigerian Constitution gives the House of Assembly the authority to investigate any government agency.

He argued that the refusal of RSIEC’s chairman and commissioners to appear raises concerns about their financial transparency.

He noted that the House had no record of approval, budgetary allocation, or appropriation law regarding RSIEC’s financial expenditures.

Despite this, billions of public funds have allegedly been misused without the Assembly’s knowledge or oversight.

“This motion calls for an investigation into how public funds were spent and whether due process was followed,” Amaewhule added.

The House, therefore, resolved to invite the EFCC and ICPC to probe RSIEC’s financial records and activities.

Lawmakers urged anti-corruption agencies to investigate how Justice Enebeli, as the chief accounting officer, managed public funds.

They also directed banks holding RSIEC accounts to submit the commission’s bank statements from January 1, 2024, to date.

Amaewhule insisted that accountability must be upheld in all public institutions, including RSIEC.

He stressed that the Assembly has a constitutional duty to ensure financial transparency and accountability in governance.

He clarified that the House was not condemning RSIEC’s leadership but was simply fulfilling its responsibilities.

“The House has the constitutional power to investigate the finances of Rivers State, and we will not hesitate to do so,” he declared.

The motion was unanimously passed, with all 26 lawmakers voting in favor of the investigation.

The House expressed concerns that misappropriation of state funds could undermine public trust in electoral institutions.

This development comes amid ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, where governance and accountability remain highly debated issues.

Lawmakers vowed to ensure that RSIEC and other government agencies adhere to financial regulations and remain accountable to the public.

The Speaker assured Rivers residents that the Assembly would continue to exercise its oversight functions without bias or political interference.

With the probe set to begin, the fate of RSIEC’s leadership now depends on the findings of anti-corruption agencies.

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