The Federal Government has not yet received a suit reportedly filed by seven governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
The governors of Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara states are seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention to reverse the emergency rule and overturn the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Federal Government Awaits Service of Suit
Despite reports that the lawsuit was filed nearly a week ago, a senior official at the Federal Ministry of Justice confirmed that the Federal Government had not been served.
“We have yet to be served with the governors’ suit that they said they filed before the Supreme Court to challenge Fubara’s suspension,” the official, who requested anonymity, told The PUNCH.
He revealed that the Ministry had already prepared a response. “Immediately after we heard about the suit, we started reading legal texts to prepare, but we have not received any official notification. We are still waiting,” he added.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was reportedly out of the country at the time, but ministry officials stated they were monitoring the situation closely.
Doubts Over the Suit’s Existence
A spokesperson for one of the PDP governors in the South-West cast doubt on whether the lawsuit was actually filed.
“Based on my discussion with our Attorney General, the case has not been filed. The report that the suit was filed was sponsored for a reason,” he said.
Adding to the uncertainty, Bayelsa State Governor and Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, Duoye Diri, did not mention the lawsuit when addressing the Rivers crisis. Instead, he urged the Federal Government to reverse the emergency rule, reinstate Fubara, and establish a reconciliation panel.
Former Rivers Official Accuses Fubara of Sponsoring Assembly Bombing
Meanwhile, fresh controversy has emerged as former Rivers State Head of Civil Service, Dr. George Nweke, accused Governor Fubara of sponsoring the bombing of the state House of Assembly complex in October 2023.
At a press conference on Friday, Nweke claimed he witnessed a cash handover to former Assembly leader and current Chief of Staff to the Governor, Edison Ehie, to carry out the attack.
“I was there with them when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation, though I do not know the amount inside,” Nweke alleged.
He further accused Fubara of orchestrating the destruction of the Assembly complex to prevent lawmakers from impeaching him. “I challenge him to an open confrontation, and I will provide more details,” Nweke added.
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Fubara’s Camp Fires Back
Governor Fubara dismissed Nweke’s claims as politically motivated. His supporters in Omuma Local Government Area, where Nweke hails from, also condemned the allegations.
Maximus Nwafor, leader of the Concerned Omuma Stakeholders, criticized Nweke, calling his statements false and self-serving.
“A sad day for the people of Omuma Local Government Area and Rivers State in general as Dr. George Nweke displays his true nature,” Nwafor said in a statement.
“We never imagined that it would come to this level, where he would peddle blatant falsehood against an innocent man who has prioritized Omuma’s well-being,” he added.
According to Nwafor, Nweke had recently reached out to the Governor’s office for financial assistance. “Shortly after his resignation, he asked for help. When he didn’t get what he wanted immediately, he resorted to blackmail,” he alleged.
Fubara’s Chief of Staff Sues Nweke
In response to the accusations, Edison Ehie, Fubara’s Chief of Staff, announced he was suing Nweke for criminal libel.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ehie denied any involvement in the Assembly bombing.
“I had already instructed my lawyer to file issues of criminal libel against him. I hope he is prepared to substantiate his claims,” Ehie said.
He insisted he was not involved in the attack. “Like everyone else, I woke up in the early hours of October 30, 2023, to hear about it,” he said.
Ehie also criticized Nweke’s motivations, suggesting financial desperation played a role. “It is unfortunate that after serving for over 35 years, he allowed himself to be used like this. His wife was even seen crying in a video, mentioning names. That tells you all you need to know,” Ehie added.