NEW TWIST IN RIVERS POLITICAL CRISIS, AS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ACCUSES CHIEF JUDGE OF AGE FALSIFICATION ...INVITES DSS TO INVESTIGATE

The Rivers State House of Assembly has accused the State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, of age falsification. The House at its 135th Legislative Sitting, Thursday, March 13, 2025, resolved to write to the Department of State Service (DSS) to investigate the allegation. Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Martin Amawhule, said the motion was adopted following a presentation by the House Leader, Major Jack. Hon Major Jack came under Order 23 of the Standing Orders of the House and presented a document alleging that the Hon. Justice Amadi was not operating by his actual age in the civil service. Other members who spoke on the issue, noted that age falsification was a serious offense, but said the allegation must first be proven, just as they urged relevant security agencies to help with the investigation. A statement on the Facebook page of the Rivers State House of Assembly quoted the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, saying that the House was unable to independently investigate the matter, in line with its powers under Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Speaker Amaewhule alleged that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had barred all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies not to appear before the House or assist the House in the conduct of investigations. He said it was for that reason that the House decided to call on the Department of State Services to institute an investigation on the alleged age falsification by the Chief Judge, with a view to ascertaining the veracity or otherwise of the allegation. The Speaker added that the outcome of the investigation would be forwarded to the National Judicial Council (NJC).