Court rules that Celestine Omehia is not a former Governor of Rivers state

A Rivers State High Court has ruled that Celestine Omehia is not a former governor of Rivers State and as such not entitled to the pensions meant for former governors and their deputies.

Recall that after Peter Odili’s tenure ended, Celestine Omehia was elected and sworn in as governor of Rivers State on May 29, 2007. He was however removed from office after Rotimi Amaechi challenged the primaries that brought him in. 

Governor Nyesom Wike initiated a process of de-recognizing Omehia as a former Governor of the state in 2023, after initially signing a law that gave him the recognition. 

A court has now backed the de-recognition of Omehia as a former Governor of Rivers state following a lawsuit he filed. Justice Daketima Kio who gave the ruling, also noted in his 97-page judgment that the counterclaim by the state government demanding that Omehia repay N695m was lacking in merit as he hadn’t compelled anyone to pay him the money.