Fresh controversy has erupted in Rivers State’s lingering political crisis following allegations that public funds were paid into the personal bank accounts of members of the State House of Assembly without clear legislative approval, raising renewed concerns over due process and executive accountability.
The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Gift Worlu, disclosed the development on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Tuesday, January 14, 2026. According to him, ₦100,000 was deposited into the accounts of Rivers lawmakers, a move that reportedly triggered internal concerns within the Assembly about the legality, source, and authorization of the payment.
Worlu revealed that the lawmakers themselves questioned the transaction, demanding to know who appropriated the funds and under what authority they were released.
He stressed that no state funds should be disbursed at the discretion of the executive without legislative approval, adding that any legitimate payment must be clearly provided for in an approved budget.
“The lawmakers asked a straightforward question: who appropriated the money?” Worlu said, noting that the issue is not about the amount involved but about adherence to constitutional procedures and transparency in governance.
He warned that accepting funds without proper appropriation could expose legislators to legal and anti-corruption scrutiny, particularly if agencies later demand explanations for payments received outside the budgetary framework. Worlu suggested that such concerns partly explain the lawmakers’ firm stance on accountability amid ongoing impeachment threats against the governor.
According to him, the constitutional duty of the State House of Assembly is to act as a check on executive excesses, not to endorse actions that fall outside the law.
He insisted that the current political standoff should be judged on constitutional principles rather than sentiment or political allegiance.
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