Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has assented to the order to derecognise Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state.
It followed the resolution of the Rivers State House Assembly on Thursday.
The legislative arm passed a motion sponsored by the House leader and member representing Obio Akpor Constituency I, Martin Amaewhule to derecognise Sir Omehia.
The House also ordered that Sir Omehia should not be addressed as “His Excellency” and that the GSSRS title is withdrawn from him.
In addition, Sir Omehia is to refund over N696 million in monetary entitlements received as a former governor within a week.
Sir Omehia became the governor of Rivers State in May 2007 after Rotimi Amaechi, who won the governorship primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was denied the ticket by the leadership of the party.
In October of the same year, the Supreme Court sacked him and directed that Mr. Amaechi be sworn in as the governor.
Sir. Omehia was not recognised as a former governor until June 2015 when Governor Nyesom Wike became the governor.
Thursday’s ruling of recognition and Governor Wike’s subsequent assent is coming days after Sir Omehia aligned with the PDP’s presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku, whom Governor Wike is at loggerheads with.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, however, said it took the action because it did not have a proper perspective of the October 2007 Supreme Court ruling as of the time it called for Sir Omehia’s recognition as a former governor.
