The Rivers State House of Assembly has disclosed plans to ask the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli.
This decision was made during the 134th legislative sitting, on Wednesday, with the lawmakers stating that the probe would focus on the commission’s financial activities over the past year.
Assembly said this move was “to ensure transparency and accountability in public institutions”.
This followed the warrant of arrest issued against the RSIEC chairman and four senior officials of the commission.
The resolution was driven by a motion sponsored by 26 lawmakers and moved by Linda Somiari-Stewart, representing Okrika Constituency.
Stewart called on the House to condemn the RSIEC chairman’s refusal to submit to an investigation, invite the EFCC and ICPC to probe the chairman and other members of the commission and summon RSIEC’s bankers to present the commission’s bank statements from January 1, 2024, to date.
During the debate, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, emphasised that Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the House to investigate any person, ministry, department, or agency within its jurisdiction.
When Amaewhule put the motion to a vote, all lawmakers agreed, prioritising the request for EFCC and ICPC intervention.
The House also gave a second reading to three bills and debated their general principles.
The bills include the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill was sent to the House Committee on Rules and Business, the RSIEC Bill, which seeks to repeal and re-enact the 2018 law governing the electoral commission, was referred to the House Committee on Commissions and Agencies and the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025, which proposes a new law to replace the 2018, 2023, and 2024 local government laws, was sent to the House Committee on Local Government.
Amaewhule praised the lawmakers for their contributions, stating that these legislative actions will strengthen governance and promote accountability in the state.
