Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have returned the sum of one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) each, allegedly transferred into their personal bank accounts by the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalaye Fubara, GSSRS, describing the payment as unsolicited and unapproved.
According to a press release issued on Monday, December 30, 2025, the Honourable Members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly received bank credit alerts of N100,000 earlier in the day. The release stated that the transfers were made on the instruction of the governor without the knowledge or approval of the legislature.
“Upon discovery of these unsolicited and unapproved transfers, Honourable Members of the House took immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government,” the statement said.
The House emphasized that as a constitutionally established institution, it is bound by law to ensure that all public expenditures follow due process, including prior legislative approval.
“As an institution established by law and guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rivers State House of Assembly maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval,” the release noted.
The lawmakers further accused the governor of repeatedly violating constitutional provisions on public finance. They alleged that since assuming office in 2023, Governor Fubara has consistently drawn from the state’s consolidated revenue account without legislative approval, despite “repeated warnings from the House, judgement of the Supreme Court and in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers.”
Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, who signed the statement, warned civil servants and other government officials allegedly involved in the process to desist from actions that contravene the law.
“With the leave of Mr Speaker and the entire House, I cease this medium to once again draw the attention of all staff of the Rivers State Government who connive with the Governor and others to contravene the Constitution and laws of Rivers State to the fact that we have become aware of their unlawful conducts,” George said.
He assured the people of Rivers State that the House would remain resolute in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, adding that the legislature “would not relent” in upholding the rule of law and due process in governance.
