Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, has announced the formation of a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the management of the state’s resources and governance under previous administrations.
This announcement was made on Monday during the swearing-in ceremony of Dagogo Iboroma, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as the new attorney-general and commissioner for justice at the government house in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
During the ceremony, Governor Fubara emphasized the significant responsibility ahead for Iboroma, stating, “Let me also say this: you have a big task. We will be setting up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the affairs of governance. So, brace up; I am not going back on it.”
Earlier that day, Iboroma was screened and cleared as a commissioner nominee by the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Victor Jumbo, the factional speaker. Iboroma’s appointment follows the resignation of Zacchaeus Adangor in April.
Governor Fubara expressed confidence in Iboroma’s capabilities, stating, “Please defend us. We know that you are going to defend us because your record is clean. You are a gentleman who is peaceful. You are not a noise-maker. People like you are endowed, and they have the fear of God.”
Fubara, who succeeded Nyesom Wike as governor in May 2023, previously served as the accountant-general under Wike’s administration. Notably, in May 2022, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Fubara and 58 others wanted over an alleged N435 billion fraud.
Fubara described Iboroma’s swearing-in as the start of a new era for his administration, signaling a move beyond the political crisis in the state. “I am happy that this is happening today to mark the beginning of a new era in our administration.
When I said that I had a reason for being patient, it is because I know that we are all from one family and if we have a disagreement, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved amicably,” he stated.
However, Fubara noted that some disagreements could not be resolved amicably, citing evidence of sabotage against his administration. “But it has become very clear that this disagreement, there is no way to resolve it amicably. And for a lot of reasons, there is visible evidence that there is sabotage and deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration,” Fubara said.
“For that reason, we have to move forward. And moving forward, if it means taking decisions that are going to hurt anybody, we are not going back on the protection of the interest of Rivers people.”
The Rivers State House of Assembly has been divided since 2023 due to a rift between Fubara and Wike. In December, 27 assembly members defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The assembly has 32 seats, but one lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo, passed away in September 2023.
In October 2023, a faction of the assembly elected Ehie Edison as speaker, following his removal as house leader by members led by Martin Amaewhule in an attempt to impeach Fubara. Edison later resigned as a lawmaker to become Fubara’s chief of staff. The Amaewhule-led faction remains loyal to Wike.
The political crisis intensified last Wednesday when Victor Jumbo, a lawmaker representing the Bonny state constituency, was elected as a factional speaker. Subsequently, a state high court in Port Harcourt issued an interim injunction restraining Amaewhule from acting as speaker and 25 other assembly members from presenting themselves as legislators.
This motion was filed by Jumbo and two other assembly members, Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy, who are loyal to Fubara.
