Politics
Explosion rocks Trans-Niger pipeline, as Rivers assembly plots to impeach Fubara
An explosion is reported to have rocked the Trans-Niger Pipeline at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State in the late hours of Monday, hours after the Rivers State House of Assembly served notice of misconduct to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the deputy governor, Ngozi Odu.
The affected section of the major pipeline is said to be currently on fire, though the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown at this time.
Authorities have yet to determine whether the incident resulted from human interference, especially amid recent threats by militant groups to attack oil installations in response to the Federal Government’s withholding of Rivers State’s allocation due to the ongoing political crisis.
The explosion reportedly occurred on Monday night along the critical export pipeline that transports crude to the Bonny Terminal.
Militant groups had threatened to sabotage oil production if Fubara is threatened with impeachment, although there’s no information yet on the cause of the explosion.
Assembly serves Gov Fubara, deputy notice of misconduct
Meanwhile, the Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday, served notice of misconduct on Governor Fubara and Mrs. Odu, in what marks the official commencement of impeachment proceedings.
Going by the constitutional steps to impeach or remove a governor/deputy governor, any of the duo can be removed within 120 days. And following the timeline strictly, devoid of legal lacunae and delays, Fubara has 111 days more to go “because the legislators are bent on removing him for gross misconduct.
The letter of misconduct was signed by 26 members of the House on March 14, 2025.
According to the Assembly, the notice is “in compliance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws.”
The letter, which cited several constitutional breaches and infractions by the governor, read: “We, the undersigned members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, hereby forward to you a Notice of Gross Misconduct by the Governor of Rivers State in the performance of the functions of his office.
“Reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds contrary to Sections 120, 121 (1)(2) and 122 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“Hindering or obstructing the Rivers State House of Assembly which is another arm of government protected by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) from performing her constitutional duties.”
Other acts of misconduct levelled against Governor Fubara include: “Appointment of persons to occupy offices/positions in Rivers State Government without allowing for the requirement of screening and confirmation as prescribed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), other extant laws but making the request for screening to persons other than the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly;
“Seizure of salaries, allowances as well as funds standing to the credit of the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly, contrary to Section 121(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other extant laws; and
“Seizure of the salary of the clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly- Mr. Emeka Amadi.”
Inability to govern
Consequently, the House of Assembly alleged that Governor Fubara had demonstrated his inability to govern, in line with the Nigerian Constitution and his oath of office.
“Mr. speaker, we conclude by stating that the Governor has shown that he is not prepared to govern Rivers State in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and his oath of office,’’ the lawmakers said.
Deputy governor’s alleged misconduct
A similar notice was served on the deputy governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, accusing her of complicity in the alleged misconduct.
“That Her Excellency, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Deputy Governor of Rivers State supported and connived with Sir Siminalayi Fubara, governor, Rivers State and refused to present the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, 2024 to the Rivers State House of Assembly contrary to Section 121(1)(2) of the Contution and disobeyed the order of the Federal High Court, which declared that, ‘thus as it stands in law, no Appropriation Bill of Rivers State has been presented neither has any of such bill being passed into law as the purported presentation, passage and signing into law of the Appropriation Bill 2024 of Rivers State is void ab initio’ and ordered him to present the Appropriation Bill 2024 to the House.
“That Her Excellency, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Deputy Governor of Rivers State supported or backed His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers State in the State Executive Council meetings as they authorized or approved withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State in the 2024 financial year of Rivers State without an appropriation law duly passed by Rivers State House of Assembly, contrary to Section 120 of the Constitution,’’ the letter alleged in part.
Fubara, Odu asked to respond in 14 days
The House gave Governor Fubara and his deputy 14 days to respond to the allegations levelled against them.
Rivers facing gloomy future – Fubara’s commissioner
Addressing the development during a press conference on Monday, the state Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, said Rivers State was facing a gloomy future due to the attitude of the lawmakers who, according to him, are bent on removing the governor from power.
“It is now common knowledge that members of the Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly have by their actions, refused to allow the Governor Fubara to fully implement the judgment of the Supreme Court on the long drawn political and legal battle that has lingered since the ill-fated attempt to impeach him on October 30, 2023.
“Right from when this unjustified onslaught against Governor Fubara started, the gentleman has never left anyone in doubt about his unwavering commitment to peace and resolute determination to put Rivers people first over and above personal and/or sectional interests.”
He noted that a few days after the Friday, February 28, 2025, shocking judgment of the Supreme Court on the consolidated cases touching on the seizure of federation revenue allocation due the state, annulment of the credible, free, fair, and peaceful local government elections of Saturday, October 5, 2024, re-presentation of the 2025 budget to the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly and the most contentious defection issue (which was never before the apex court, but surprisingly, vaguely touched by the learned jurists of a 5-man panel), Governor Siminalayi Fubara has never left anyone in doubt about his preparedness not only to obey, but also fully implement the Supreme Court judgment, no matter the unfortunate and unfavourable outcome.
Johnson recalled that Fubara, personally issued and signed a letter addressed to Speaker Amaewhule, formally notifying him and unambiguously indicating his intention to come before the members of the state legislature to lay the 2025 budget before them on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 for consideration. According to him, the governor followed this up by making phone calls to the speaker.
“Sadly, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accompanied by government officials, was denied access into the legislative quarters where the RSHA members currently hold their sitting on the appointed day, that is, Wednesday, March 12, 2025,’’ the commissioner said.
He, however, appealed to the lawmakers not to embark on a futile image laundry by wrongly claiming that Governor Fubara who, by all intents and purposes, “is prepared, willing and ready to re-present the 2025 budget and carry out full implementation of all aspects of the bizarre and utterly controversial judgment of the apex court for the sake of peace, is being misrepresented and painted in bad colour as not ready to comply with the judgment.”
