Mohammed Shosanya
A Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt has declared that Sir Celestine Omehia is not a former governor of Rivers State and as such is not entitled to the pensions meant for former governors and their deputies.
Justice Daketima Kio, while delivering its ruling in the suit instituted by Omehia on Tuesday, said that the counterclaim by the state government demanding that Omehia repay N695m was lacking in merit, stating that Omehia did not compel anyone to pay him the money.
He ruled that from the records at his disposal,Omehia never applied to be recognised by state government nor the State House of Assembly, hence the state government cannot legitimately demand a refund of the monies wrongly paid to him.
The judge aligned with the judgment of the Supreme Court which described Sir Omehia as an imposter and pretender, ordering that Omehia should not be conferred with the status of a former governor.
He further ordered that Omehia should not benefit from the pension of governors and deputy governors, the judge also declined to award cost in favour or against any party in the suit, declaring that the parties bear their costs
It would be recalled that,Rotimi Amaechi was substituted for Celestine Omehia as the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the 2007 prior to the general elections.
However,after the elections, Omehia won and was sworn in May 29, 2007 after the administration of Dr. Peter Odili.
Rotimi Amaechi, who initially won the party primaries before the PDP wrongly substituted him with another candidate, headed to court to challenge the candidacy of Omehia, after a long legal battle, the supreme court ruled that Amaechi was the validly elected candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Amaechi replaces Omehia as Governor.
During the administration of Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State, the House of Assembly, enacted a law recognising Omehia as former governor of the state, paying to him all his entitlements.
Last year,Wike as the then Governor, withdrew the governorship recognition accorded Omehia and demanded that he refund all pensions he had received over the years.
Omehia approached the court, seeking a declaration that he be recognised as a former governor of the state.
