The Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) have asked Mr. Celestine Omehia to refund N600m benefits, N97m pension
As part of its resolution, Rivers State House of Assembly has asked Celestine Omehia to refund about N600m benefits he received from the State as a former governor.
All 21 members, who voted for the derecognition of Omehia as a former governor, also ordered him to return about N97m he had so far received as pension to the treasury of the State.
It should be noted that on 25 October, 2007, the Supreme Court sacked Sir Celestine Omehia. The Court ruled that Constitutionally he was never a governor and should not enjoy anything in form of benefits and entitlements as a former governor. Rt. Hon. Rotimi Ameachi who was made governor appointed then Hon. Nyeson Wike as his Chief of Staff. He ordered the removal of Omehia’s Portrait from Government House and Wike was the one who PERSONALLY removed the Portrait.
On May 29, 2015, Wike was sworn in as governor of Rivers, and on June 25, 2017, Wike using the RSHA, again PERSONALLY restored Omehia’s Portrait back to government house, ignoring the SC judgement. He said Ameachi has no respect. He paid all entitlements to Omehia, bought him a car and built him a house. Then they were on same side. APC Rivers screamed but Wike won’t listen.
Now, fast forward to 2022, and the fallout of the PDP Presidential Primaries which Atiku won, and the crisis that followed between him and Wike. Omehia took sides with Atiku against his benefactor Wike. Wike threatened he will removed his Portrait from Government House, Omehia said do your worst. Today, Wike using the same RSHA has Derecognised Omehia and asked him to refund N696.5m entitlements and pensions and other sums he collected so far within 7 days.