The Rivers State House Of Assembly has stripped Sir Celestine Omehia of all privileges, titles and entitlements as former Governor of the State.
The action follows a resolution reached at plenary on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the State Capital.
The House deliberations presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, adopted the motion sponsored by the House leader, Martin Amaewhule, Member representing Obio-Akpor State Constituency I.
In the Motion, Martin Amaewhule prayed the House to consider the following for the good of the State.
- “Call on the Executive Governor of Rivers State to derecognised Sir Celestine Omehia as former Governor of Rivers State and also terminate all privileges, benefits and entitlement accruing to all former Governors of Rivers State that are currently being extended to him.
- “Direct Sir Celestine Omehia to cease forthwith from using the title “His Excellency” and suffix “Grand Service Star of Rivers State (GSSRS)” which appertain to only Governor or former Governors of Rivers State.
- “Direct that Sir Celestine Omehia refunds all monies paid to him by the Rivers State Government as benefits and entitlements, particularly, the sum of N600,000.00 (six hundred million naira) only being benefits and N96, 520,359.40( Ninety six million, five hundred and twenty thousand, three hundred and fifty nine naira forty Kobo) only being monthly pensions to the treasury of the Rivers State Government within seven(7) days from the date of this House resolution.”
All the Twenty one (21) members of the House present at plenary voted in favour of the four prayers of the motion that sought a rescind of such recognition that was accorded Sir Omehia.
NPress News recalled that when Celestine Omehia was removed by the Supreme Court as Governor in 2007, the Apex Court ruled that the he was never to be recognized as a former Governor by law.
However, when the incumbent Governor of the State, Nyesom Ezewon Wike, a lawyer and member of the Body of Benchers took over as Governor in 2015 jettisoned the Court ruling went on to recognize Omehia as Governor against the judgement of the Apex Court, restored all his entitlements as a Former Governor from 2007 to 2015.