Wednesday 24 June 2015

Rivers Assembly empowers Attorney-General to sue former governor, Rotimi Amaechi over handover note

Rivers State House of Assembly has passed a resolution directing the state Attorney-General, Mr Emmanuel Aguma, to use legal means to compel former governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to present a handover note to the present administration in the state.

Governor Nyesom Wike had stated on several occasions that his predecessor refused to do a proper handing over, thus making it difficult to ascertain the assets and liabilities of the state.



At its sitting on Tuesday, the lawmakers in the state, however, condemned what it termed a “deliberate refusal of the former governor to present a handover note to his successor,” Nyesom Wike.

A member of the House of Assembly, Honourable Farah Dagogo, had presented on the floor a motion “to compel the former governor of Rivers State, Amaechi, to make available handover note to the new administration.”

The lawmaker, who represents Degema Constituency, said the present administration did not know the assets and liabilities of the state due to the failure of the former governor to properly hand over to his successor.

He said the present administration did not know the assets and liabilities of the state due to the failure of the former governor to properly hand over to his successor.

“Part of our oversight function is to prevent people and institutions from doing the wrong thing. If we fail to do this, we are setting a bad precedence in the state.

“This is why this motion is exigent considering the fact that the past administration failed to give handover notes.

“As it stands now, the current position of the state finances is unknown, because the state is in a precarious position,” he said.
Contributing, the lawmaker representing Asari-Toru I, Alabo George, submitted that government was a continum, adding that the matter, if not tackled, would set a bad precedence in the state.

Also, House Leader, Honourable Martin Amaewhule, argued that government business must be conducted in the interest of the state, saying no one was above the law.

He suggested that the Attorney-General should be directed to employ all possible means within the law to compel the former governor to provide the handover note.

Commenting, Speaker of the state House Assembly, Honourable Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, who later divided the House for voting, commended the move of the motion, saying the state was greater than any individual.

Twenty-eight of the lawmakers at the sitting, consequently voted in favour of the motion, thus leading to the passage of the resolution.

Credit: Dapo Falade/Nigerian Tribune

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