Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Onueze Okocha, has advised members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to abandon plans to probe Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who served as the state’s Sole Administrator earlier in the year.
Speaking with journalists on Monday, October 6, in Port Harcourt, Okocha urged the lawmakers to redirect their focus towards rebuilding the state and fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, “the house should channel its energy to accomplishing constitutional duties rather than probing.”
Ibas governed the state between March and September 2025, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by President Bola Tinubu.
Since his exit, there have been mounting calls for a review of his administration and spending during the six-month emergency rule.
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However, Okocha described the move as unnecessary and potentially divisive.
He said, “I think Ibas deserved some honour and respect; it will be unkind if our lawmakers begin to talk about probing him since they did not appoint him, nor was he reporting to them.”
“As a concerned citizen of the state, my advice to the lawmakers is that they should ignore the plan of probing Ibas and allow the state to run peacefully along democratic lines,” he added.
Okocha also called for unity among the three arms of government, stressing that mutual cooperation was essential for the state’s progress.
“There’s an urgent need for a harmonious relationship amongst the three arms of government, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary if we must move forward,” he said.
He appealed to the legislators to focus on fostering collaboration and democratic stability rather than political conflicts.
(NAN)