Jimitota Onoyume
20 November 2007
Port Harcourt — THE Rivers State House of Assembly is set to investigate how N1.6 billion allegedly given to the dissolved state Electoral Commission was expended.
In a motion on the issue, Mr. Ewoh Robinson representing Ahoada East constituency said petitions available to him revealed that the Omehia administration had released the sum to the Commission to conduct local government elections. And the Chairman of the Commission had allegedly used 64 million of the money to buy cars which he was still keeping after the dissolution of the body. He also allegedly expended over 60% of the 1.6 billion on printing of security materials for the election.
Mr. Robinson in his motion prayed the House to immediately order the arrest of the dissolved Commission Chairman and members until the allegations were proven.
The Speaker, Hon Tonye Harry however quickly intervened with a plea that the matter be investigated before issues of arrest could come up. "I use my position to expunge the prayer that the Chairman and members of the Commission be arrested immediately. You have to investigate before arresting.
The Speaker said when he first heard of the allegations he constituted a six man committee of the House to investigate the issue. And gave them ten days to submit their report. But they could not because according to the Committee, Chairman of the dissolved Commission refused to appear before them when they invited him.
The Speaker yesterday expounded the Committee and gave them one week to turn in their findings. It would be recalled deposed governor Omehia had set up a five man state Electoral Commission to conduct the forth coming local government election. But the electoral body was dissolved barely a week Rotimi Amaechi took over as governor of the state via a court verdict. The governor through his Attorney General had challenged the composition of the electoral body in court because it was allegedly made up of only the PDP, an act which violated the electoral act. Judgment was delivered in his favor. And consequently, the electoral body was dissolved.
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