Omehia was never governor of Rivers - Court rules, bars him from refund of N697 million entitlement

Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ruled that Sir Celestine Omehia was never a governor of Rivers State and should not be described as one.

The court in Port Harcourt yesterday declared that Omehia is not entitled to receive the pension meant for ex-governors of the state.

Although the court ruled that Omehia must not pay back the N697 million paid to him as pensions and fringe benefits by the state government under the former governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike.

The court in its decision noted that, Omehia, from proper interpretation of the Governor and Deputy Governor Pension and Free Benefits Law, has never been a former governor of the State and should not have benefited from the pension as stated under the pension law of Rivers State.

Justice Daketima Koi in his judgment in a suit filed by Omehia against Rivers State Governor, Attorney General of the State, Speaker and House of Assembly held that the applicant cannot be made to suffer the wrong of the defendants in the suit.

Kio held that from every fact, Omehia never applied to be recognized by state government and State House of Assembly, hence the government cannot legitimately demand the money paid wrongly to him since the demand came in a way of counter claim in an originating summon.

However, counsel for the Rivers State Government and House of Assembly, Success Gibert, from the Ministry of Justice expressed happiness on the part of the judgment that favored his clients, but declined comment on the part that refused the claimant to pay back to money paid to the government. But, counsel for Omehia, Seraki Orlu, declined comment.