Celestine Omehia has lost his status as former governor of Rivers State following a motion of the state House of Assembly stripping him of the title.
The Supreme Court once removed in a judgement in 2007 that Celestine Omehia was not a duly elected candidate in the election of that year.
In the latest development, Leader of the House, Martin Amaewmule, moved a motion to reverse a resolution of the 8th Assembly on June 30, 2015, which compelled the Executive Arm, headed by Governor Nyesom Wike to recognise Omehia as a former Governor and be accorded all entitlements, privileges, and benefits.
According to the lawmaker, the continued recognition of Omehia as a former governor goes contrary to the Supreme Court judgement in 2007 which removed Celestine Omehia as a Governor for not being the duly elected candidate in that year’s election.
Amaewmule tendered a copy of the Nigerian Weekly Law Report that contains the landmark judgement which removed Omehia from office and declared Rotimi Amaechi as the duly elected candidate of the PDP at the time and the right person to occupy the office of the Governor.
He said the motion is being moved now to reverse the earlier resolution because the 9th Assembly has a better knowledge and particulars on the said Supreme Court Judgement.
Amaewmule who represents Obio/Akpor Constituency one submitted four prayers to the house for endorsement.
He is asking the House to rescind its earlier resolution that Omehia be recognized, that Omehia should desist from addressing himself as “HIS EXCELLENCY” as well as the usage of the acronym “GSSRS”, meaning, Grand Service Star of Rivers State, which is a state honour meant for an incumbent and former Governors alone.
The other demand by the law maker is that Omehia should refunds all monetory entitlements paid to him by the Rivers State Government, especially the 600 million naira in benefits and 96.5 million naira in pension he has so far received as at September 2022 from the Rivers State Government within seven days, and the house should take any other decisions that the house deemed necessary.
The motion was seconded by the Whip of the House, Evans Bipi.
In a debate, all the lawmakers who made contributions, including the representative of Celestine Omehia’s constituency in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Anselm Oguguo agreed to the prayers.
Some of the lawmakers, however, requested that a specific decision be made on what action to be taken if Celestine Omehia fails to refund the monetary benefits.
After the debate, all 21 members present at the plenary voted in support of the four prayers by the leader of the House.
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said the house was right in taking the decision because no law is absolute.
