The Rivers crisis intensifies as the Amaewhule-led Assembly takes action against so-called impostor chairmen, directing police to make arrests.
Martin Amaewhule, the speaker of Rivers state House of Assembly, has urged the police to apprehend individuals who are falsely presenting themselves as caretaker committee chairmen for the 23 local government areas in the state.
Following Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s failure to dissolve the illegal caretaker committees as directed by the Supreme Court, lawmakers have requested that police promptly withdraw their personnel from those in question.
During their 7th legislative sitting, the lawmakers examined the Certified True Copy (CTC) of a recent Supreme Court verdict that granted autonomy to local government councils and subsequently issued a directive.
Enemi Alabor George, the chairman of the House Committee on Information, signed off on Public Notice; a resolution passed by Amaewhule-led House.
Following careful consideration of the verdict, legislators highlighted to the public the illicit actions of “impostors who continue to present themselves as caretaker committee chairpersons and members,” blatantly contradicting the ruling handed down by the Supreme Court.
The House led by Amaewhule noted that the “unlawful caretakers” were enforcing charges and taxes on inhabitants, as well as unjustly harassing individuals who were unaware of their rights under the Rivers State Local Government Amendment Law of 2023.
According to the lawmakers, individuals who had held certain positions were prohibited from continuing in those roles under the revised local government legislation.
The House urged banks, governments at all tiers, NGOs, traditional authorities and residents to refrain from conducting business with individuals who were not elected officials.
This notice serves as a reminder that individuals who have not been elected and are attempting to undermine our democracy should be avoided when conducting business. They are in contempt of the Supreme Court’s injunction orders, so please refrain from dealing with them.
“The House has informed the police and other law-enforcement agencies to begin arresting these impostors,” according to a statement.
The legislators stated that their instructions are in accordance with the revised 1999 Constitution’s Section 7(1) provision, which ensures a democratically elected local government council system and Rivers State Local Government Law number 5 of 2018’s Section.64(1), granting the House authority to issue orders restricting only those who have been elected from managing affairs within the state’s twenty-three local councils.
