The Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Darlington Orji, has alleged that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly received N350 million each for constituency projects, despite claims by some lawmakers that certain payments to them were not appropriated.

He said the funds were disbursed under the administration of then Sole Administrator, Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

Orji made the allegation yesterday while appearing on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he addressed questions surrounding the budget process and recent tensions between the executive and the legislature.

Fubara’s aide made the claim amidst ongoing faceoff between the governor and majority of the state’s House of Assembly, leading to initiating impeachment proceedings against the governor.

Orji, who also referred to a N100,000 payment made in December to civil servants as an end-of-year appreciation, noted that the same amount was extended to members of the House of Assembly, though some lawmakers reportedly rejected it on the grounds that it was not appropriated.

Orji questioned the rejection, arguing that the lawmakers had previously accepted N350 million each for constituency projects without raising concerns about appropriation.

He said, “You know that your platform is a very respected one, and I will not come here to tell lies. I will not say what I’m not sure of now. Because the Governor did not agree with them on that, so they didn’t come up with a presentation.

“You know that in preparing budget, there are too many things that will be improved that will make up the appropriation bill. And when they say the interest was not captured, and the man (Fubara) said, don’t worry, by December.

“So the specific amount I do not know as it stands today, because that presentation was not made because His Excellency, the governor, refused to accept that. But don’t forget, in December, there was N100,000 that was given to civil servants as a way of appreciating them and end of the package, it was also given to the members of Rivers. Some people rejected the money.

“They rejected it that it was not appropriated. You cannot build something of nothing now you rejected because N100,000 was not appropriated. Can you ask them, please, sir, the N350 million naira that was given to each of them for their constituency project, where did it come from? Why did they not reject it since it was not appropriated?”

“It was Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator, after the signing of the Appropriation Act, that’s the budget has been passed to law, it was there they gave them the money. Why did they not say it was not captured, and the SUV car?” (The Nation)