The spokesperson of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Enemi George, has explained why lawmakers rejected the Christmas gift sent by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television and monitored by DAILY POST on Thursday, George said the decision was guided by constitutional principles and a desire to avoid legal consequences.
DAILY POST recalls that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly had returned a ₦100,000 payment credited to their individual bank accounts, describing the funds as unapproved and unsolicited.
“I Don’t Want to Go to Prison” — Assembly Spokesman
Explaining the lawmakers’ position, George said the gift had no legal backing.
“We rejected that money on principle. There is no constitutional provision for that kind of payment. How do you defend it?” he asked.
He noted that neither the state budget nor any appropriation law made provision for Christmas gifts to lawmakers.
“The budget passed by the legislature did not approve any Christmas gift. We didn’t reject it because the money was small; we rejected it because I don’t want to go to prison,” George stated.
The Assembly spokesman stressed that public funds must be handled strictly in line with the constitution and financial regulations.
“We are dealing with public funds. This is not my father’s money, my mother’s money, or my sister’s money. It belongs to the people of Rivers State,” he said.
Lawmakers Insist on Due Process
George maintained that accepting funds not backed by law or budgetary approval could expose lawmakers to legal and ethical violations, insisting that due process must always be followed in the management of public resources.
As of the time of this report, the Rivers State Government has not issued an official response to the lawmakers’ remarks.
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