The Rivers State House of Assembly has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the financial activities of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Chairman, Retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli.
The resolution was made during the 134th Legislative Sitting of the House on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. A motion sponsored by 26 lawmakers condemned the chairman’s refusal to subject himself to investigation by the House.
The motion, moved by Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, a Member representing Okrika Constituency, urged the House to invite the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the financial activities of the RSIEC Chairman and members.
The House also resolved to invite the Commission’s bankers to produce the bank statements of the Commission from January 1, 2024, to date.
This development comes on the heels of a warrant of arrest issued to the chairman and four other members of the commission.
The Rivers State Assembly has been resolute in its efforts to instil probity and accountability in public institutions.
According to a statement signed by Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, the House is determined to ensure that public officials are held accountable for their actions.
Commenting on the motion, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule stated that by the provisions of Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution, the House is empowered to conduct an investigation on any person, ministry, department, and agency within its legislative powers, and when the Speaker puts the question, the House voted in the affirmative, adopting all the prayers of the motion and 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 a Second Reading to three bills and debated the general principles of the Bills, harping on the merits inherent therein. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. 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 Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (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. While 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.
