A ₦100,000 cash gift purportedly given to them as a Christmas bonus by Governor Siminalayi Fubara has been returned by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

It was claimed that the governor gave the order to transfer the funds into lawmakers’ personal bank accounts.

The House Committee on Information, Petitions, and Complaints Chairman, Hon. Enemi Alabo George, signed a statement disclosing this.

The statement claims that bank alerts totaling ₦100,000 were sent to members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly on December 30, 2025.

The lawmakers emphasized that the payment did not adhere to due process and characterized it as unapproved and unsolicited.

The Assembly said the funds were immediately returned to the Rivers State Government account upon discovery.

“As an institution established by law and guided strictly by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Rivers State House of Assembly maintains that all public expenditures must follow due process, including legislative approval,” the statement read.

The lawmakers further accused Governor Fubara of consistently withdrawing funds from the Consolidated Revenue Account of the state without legislative approval since assuming office in 2025, despite repeated warnings, Supreme Court judgements, and constitutional provisions on separation of powers.

The development comes amid renewed political tensions in Rivers State, particularly between the state government and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.