–Not entitled to Pension for past governors
The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt , the Rivers State capital on Tuesday ruled that Sir Celestine Omehia was at no time a governor of Rivers state.
Recall that Omehia was sworn – in as the 4th governor of Rivers State on May29, 2007 . On 25 October,2007,he was ousted by a Supreme Court judgement which returned his kinsman, Rotimi Amaechi as governor of the state.
The Apex court held that Omehia was in the eye of the law never a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.
However, ruling on the matter brought by Omehia, Justice Daketima Kio held that Omehia is not a former governor of the state and as such not entitled to Pensions paid to former governors
On the counterclaim by the state government demanding that Omehia repay N695 million, the judge said it was lacking in merit as he did not ask anyone to pay him the money.
The judgement comes a few days after Governor Siminilayi Fubara promised to recognise Omehia as a former governor of the state..
Omehia was recognised as a former governor of Rivers state by the immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike with pension allegedly fully paid to him, but a frosty relationship between Wike and himself resulted in the removal of his status symbol.
