Rivers Archives - Afinju FM

Rivers Lawmakers Reject N100,000 Christmas Gift From Fubara

Boluwatife Ajayi — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:59:21 +0000

The feud between Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, and members of the state’s assembly has taken a new turn.

In a statement issued by Enemi Alabo George, chairman of the house committee on information and petitions, the lawmakers said they received a credit alert of N100,000 each on Fubara’s instructions.

The legislators, who are loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the sum was “unapproved and unsolicited”.

The lawmakers said they have taken “immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government”.

“Upon discovery of these unsolicited and unapproved transfers, Honourable Members of the House took immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government,” the statement reads.

“As an institution established by law and guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rivers state house of assembly maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval.

“The Governor, since assumption of office in 2023 has consistently drawn from the consolidated revenue accounts of Rivers State without legislative approval despite repeated warnings from the House, judgement of the supreme court and in defiance of the Constitution and principles of separation of powers.

“Therefore, with the leave of Mr Speaker and the entire House, I seize this medium to once again draw the attention of all staff of the Rivers State Government who connive with the Governor and others to contravene the Constitution and laws of Rivers State to the fact that we have become aware of their unlawful conducts.”

Since the lifting of the emergency rule on September 18, there has been a simmering cold war between Fubara and the lawmakers.

Recently, the legislators accused Fubara of unapproved spending.

Source: Thecable

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Six Rivers PDP Reps Defect to APC

Boluwatife Ajayi — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 12:17:08 +0000

Six members of the House of Representatives, serving under the Peoples Democratic Party, have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to the unresolved leadership crisis in the PDP.

The members are Hon Dum Dekor, Hon Solomon Bob, Hon Hart Cyril Godwin, Hon Engr Victor Obuzor, Hon Blessing Amadi, and Hon Felix Nweke.

Their letters and reasons of defection were read by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, during plenary.

According to their letters, their decisions were taken after due consultation and that the APC, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu provides a better platform for them to serve their people.

Source: Nation

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NSA Relays Tinubu’s Satisfaction, Says President Happy with Rivers Governor

Boluwatife Ajayi — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:43:02 +0000

National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has paid a visit to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, delivering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message of satisfaction with the governor’s approach to leadership and governance.

Ribadu led a high-powered presidential delegation that included the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi; the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal; and senior officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Speaking during the visit, the NSA described Rivers State as one of the most peaceful states in the country, noting that the delegation was in the state to reinforce and build upon existing peace initiatives, particularly in Ogoniland.

He said recent developments in the area marked a new beginning, stressing that Nigeria “will no longer be what it used to be,” with the transformation starting from Ogoni.

Ribadu disclosed that President Tinubu had specifically directed him to commend Governor Fubara for his leadership style and his effective coordination of engagements on the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.

Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, said the Ogoni peace initiative was vital to national unity and assured that key infrastructure projects, including the East–West Road and Bonny–Bodo Road, would be completed to standard.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the Ogoni cleanup.

Source TVC

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Rivers Governor Sacks State Pensions Board

Afinju FM — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 12:27:42 +0000

The state’s head of service, Inyingi Brown in a statement, said the office of the accountant-general will take over the board’s responsibilities until a new one is formed.

The announcement, issued in Port Harcourt, directed members of the dissolved board to hand over all assets and documents in their possession to the director of administration.

“The executive governor of Rivers state, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the immediate dissolution of the Rivers State Pensions Board,” the statement reads.

“Consequently, the office of the accountant-general of Rivers state, henceforth, will handle the functions of the board.

“Members of the defunct board are by this notice advised to hand over all properties and assets of the board in their possession to the director of administration of the board.

“His Excellency, the executive governor, will in due course constitute a new board to manage the affairs of pensions.”

The dissolution is Fubara’s first major directive since his reinstatement as the state Governor.

Source: TheCableng

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Three Kidnappers Arrested Over ₦6.9m Ransom, Victim’s Murder In Rivers

Afinju FM — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:49:02 +0000

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement.

The kidnappers were identified as Hassan Mohammed (20) of Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar (25) of Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed (23) of Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.

According to Grace Iringe-Koko, the arrests followed an investigation into the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali.

The PPRO said the suspects also kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere at the same location, where they also collected a ransom of N3,500,000 before releasing her.

Iringe-Koko said during interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the State.

Iringe-Koko added that the suspects and exhibits remain in police custody while detectives track other fleeing members of the syndicate and search for additional weapons.

According to Iringe-Koko, George committed the offence on September 6, 2025, after luring the minor while she was sent on an errand by her aunt.

Source: Punch

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Ibas Refuses To Allow Investigation Into Six Month Spending

Afinju FM — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:20:57 +0000

Ibas disclosed this while answering questions from newsmen through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, saying it was understandable that, having been away from the business of legislation for a while, the lawmakers were merely trying to make an effort to discharge their functions.

Ibas, who left office after President Bola Tinubu lifted emergency rule in the oil-rich state, said any probe targeting his administration would amount to probing the President and the National Assembly that appointed and supervised him.

Recall that the Rivers State House of Assembly, presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, during its first plenary after the end of emergency rule, said it would investigate the state expenditure during the six months of emergency rule.

According to the resolutions of the House, “To explore the process of knowing what transpired during the emergency rule with regard to spending from the consolidated revenue fund for the award of contracts and other expenditure.”

According to an analysis of FAAC data from the National Bureau of Statistics and other sources, Rivers State received at least N254.37bn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee during the tenure of the sole administrator.

The data show Rivers took home N44.66bn in March, N44.42bn in April, N42.80bn in May and N42.30bn in June, according to NBS.

Source: Punch

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Rivers Assembly Resumes Plenary After Six Month Suspension

Afinju FM — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:32:28 +0000

Recall that President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule on September 17, 2025, reinstating the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly.

The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Source: Punch

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Ibas Reflects on Rivers Success: I Restored Peace and Stability

Afinju FM — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:45:01 +0000

Ibas stated this during a Public Lecture titled ‘Good Governance and Democratic Dividends’ delivered by Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kanmike, SAN, as part of the transition activities held in Government House, Port Harcourt.

Ibas thanked the people of the State for the support and cooperation given to him as the State Administrator, insisting that he has achieved the presidential mandate given to him to restore peace and security in Rivers

Ibas stated that the public lecture was more than an intellectual exercise, describing it as a covenant renewal with the people of Rivers.

The Administrator stated, “As a nation, our democracy must deliver, and that governance must always be rooted in service.

“Standing before you, we feel with gratitude and humility; gratitude for the support you gave me as your administrator and humility that I was called to serve in such a defining moment in the history of this great state.

He continued, “Most significantly was the peacefully conducted local government council elections restored democratic governance to the grassroots, the level of government closest to the people. Emergency rule was never a choice; it was a necessity brought upon us by insecurity, political impasse, and breakdown of trust.

He further said, “Rivers State has been stabilised under extraordinary circumstances; much remains to be done. The foundations have been laid.

Earlier in his goodwill message, Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, said the lecture came at a defining moment of a transition to democratic governance, even as he commended Rivers people for their support and cooperation with the interim administration.

The Guest Lecturer, remarked that as the Ibas-led administration is transiting, it should serve as a period of sober reflection, saying, ” The case of Rivers should be an example for other states in the country.”

Source: Punch

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Rivers APC Woos Fubara To Join Party

Afinju FM — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:03:34 +0000

APC spokesman in Rivers, Darlington Nwauju, made the call while speaking on a national television.

“If I were the governor of Rivers State, on my return, I would announce my defection to the All Progressives Congress. I think the governor should join the APC, and we would gladly receive the governor into our party,” Nwauju said.

When asked if Fubara would lead the APC in Rivers if he defected, Nwauju responded that it was automatic.

“By the convention of our party, if he joins the All Progressives Congress, he becomes the leader of the party,” he added.

Nwauju also spoke about the administration of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), who has overseen the state for the past six months.

“I do expect that the committee should be able to do due diligence, come up with that report, and tell Nigerians what they found out. It is one of their core mandates in the business of legislations and lawmaking,” he stated.

Source: Punch

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48-Year-Old Man Arrested In Rivers For Defilling A Minor

Afinju FM — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:21:13 +0000

In a statement released, the command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the 48 year old man, a native of Akwa Ibom but resides in Port Harcourt, lured the 12 year old girl into a stationary tricycle before assaulting her.

According to the statement, the incident occurred at Mini Orlu, off Ada-George Road, where the victim, who was on holiday with her aunt, was attacked while returning from an errand.

Iringe-Koko explained that operatives attached to the CP Strike Force mobilised swiftly after receiving a distress call and took the girl to the Police Hospital for medical examination.

The police spokesperson disclosed that exhibits recovered from the scene included a bundle of rope allegedly used to tie the victim’s hands, a wrap of fufu, and the blue tricycle.

“The suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime during interrogation. He is currently in custody alongside the exhibits while a discreet investigation continues,” Iringe-Koko added.

The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of crime in the state face the full wrath of the law.

He further urged parents and guardians to watch over their children and wards closely, as such predators are within our neighbourhood.

Source: Punch

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