The Rivers State House of Assembly has explained its decision to reject the Christmas gift offered by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing constitutional, legal, and ethical reasons.
The Assembly’s spokesperson, Hon. Enemi George, disclosed this during an interview on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television on Thursday.
George stated that the lawmakers returned the funds to avoid violating the law and compromising their principles.
Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier rejected and returned a N100,000 payment credited to their accounts, describing it as unapproved and unsolicited.
Explaining the decision, George said, “We rejected that money for principles.
“There’s no constitutional provision for that. How do you defend it? The budget that the National Assembly passed, there’s nowhere they said that there’s Christmas gift.
“We didn’t reject it because the money is too small but we rejected it because I don’t want to go to prison. No constitutional provision for such money. Which constitution backs it?
“Look, we are dealing with public funds which do not belong to my father, mother or sister. It rather belongs to the Rivers people.”
The lawmaker emphasized that public office holders must act strictly within the bounds of the constitution and financial regulations, especially in the handling of public funds, according to PUO Reports.
