The embattled members of the factional House of Assembly in Rivers State led by Martins Amaewhule have risen against the Rivers State Commission of Inquiry Law of 1999. The embattled 27 members, whose positions as lawmakers are still subject to a legal tussle, are rushing to repeal the law, which empowers the state to inquire into past administrations. The law was used by Nyesom Wike, as governor, to create a Judicial Commission of Inquiry that probed the tenure of his predecessor.
The Amaewhule-led Assembly has already seen a bill seeking to repeal the law through a second reading. Symfoninews learnt that the repeal process was initiated by the lawmakers following the decision of the state government to set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the recent arson and destruction of local government secretariats in the state. The commission had invited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha to testify in the probe. Both have shunned the panel. The bill was sponsored by the trio of the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, the member representing Akuku Toru Constituency II, Lolo Opuende and the member representing Omuma Constituency, Sylvanus Nwankwo.
Leading the debate on the bill, Nwankwo said the obsolete laws were repealed and re-enacted to reflect current democratic realities. Other lawmakers who contributed to the bill said it would strengthen the principle of separation of powers and democratic ethos in the state. Amaewhule said the bill will make provisions for a tripartite engagement between the governor, the Assembly, and the commissions to be set up so that powers donated by the Assembly are not abused by any individual. The bill was subsequently committed to the House Committee on Judiciary for further legislative scrutiny.
