RVHA Resumes Probe Of Ahoada-East LG Boss

Rivers State House of Assembly has again commenced another round of investigation on the Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi, over financial recklessness of about N1.5 billion.

This followed a petition by Hon. Bright Nelson and presented to the House at Wednesday’s sitting by Hon. Ibiso Nwuche, member representing Ahoada East Constituency II.

After listening to the submissions of the petitioner through Hon. Nwuche, the Speaker, Rt Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, directed the House Committee On Public Complaints and Petitions to investigate the allegation against the chairman and report back to the Assembly.

The petitioner, Hon Nelson had alleged that the Ahaoda East council boss had misappropriated about N1.5 billion which he used to enrich himself to the detriment of the people.

He also  Chief Ikegbidi rather than acting as the Chief Security Officer of the local government was involved in acts capable of causing crisis in the area.

Hon Nelson equally alleged that the chairman sponsored the impeachment of his deputy and contributed N1 million in sponsorship of a case against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Chairman, Chief Godspower Ake in Abuja.

The petitioner, therefore, appealed to the Assembly to investigate the issues raised in the petition because the council chairman was engaged in fragrant abuse of public office as most of the transactions of the council were not documented.

It would be recalled that similar investigation against the council chairman was abandoned at a committee report stage last year.

In another development, the bill for a law to repeal and amend the State Customary Court Law sponsored by the lawmaker representing Etche Constituency II, Hon Golden Chioma, was sent back to the author to consolidate and harmonise issues therein.

Leading the proponents  of those wishing to harmonise the bill, Hon Chidi Lloyd, said the short and long term benefit of the bill were at war with each other, stressing that to repeal the principal law would create a gap.

He opined that the intentment was to come up with a law that will take care of the customary court system and advised the sponsor to come up with the amendments of the principal law which if completed will repeal the principal law on its own. Hon Lloyd, therefore, urged the House to allow the bill return to the sponsor based on the structural defects noticeable.

Hon Ikuinyi Ibani, Andoni, observed that the defects in the bill did not give any room for the merits and demerits of the bill to be discussed.