Rivers Assembly rescinds arrest threat against Heirs Energies, re-engages management

The Rivers State House of Assembly has softened its earlier threat to issue a warrant of arrest against the Management team of Heirs Energies Limited, and instead mandated the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions to re-engage the company on the contentious issues that warranted the initial summons.

The Management of Heirs Energies Limited had repeatedly failed to honour invitations from the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions regarding a petition against the company.

Omuohia Community in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area, had sent a petition to the State Assembly over the alleged unfair termination of contract staff who are community members working for the company, and had demanded their immediate reinstatement.

The Assembly, on Monday, July 6, 2026, frowned on the Heirs team’s failure to honour the committee’s invitations. It issued a fresh summons for Monday, July 20, threatening to issue a warrant to compel their attendance in accordance with Section 129 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) if they failed to appear.

Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Assembly, said the House would not condone such disregard, adding that Section 129 empowers the House to procure evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial, that may be material or relevant to the subject matter from any person invited for that purpose.

The Assembly’s resolve to re-engage the company on Monday, July 20, however, followed a letter by the Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies Ltd to the Assembly, read at the 6th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session.

Amaewhule, the Assembly Speaker, had informed the House of the receipt of a letter from the CEO of Heirs Energies Limited, explaining his inability to honour the Assembly’s summons and stating that a delegation from the company had been sent to appear before the House.

The Speaker, based on this, recommitted the matter to the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions to interface with the company, resolve all pending issues, and report back to the House.

The House, on Monday, also received a petition from the Sea School Isaka Alumni Foundation, requesting that it repeal the Rivers State Sports Institute Law (Cap. 123, Vol. 6, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria) and re-enact a law to re-establish the defunct Government Sea School, Isaka, in Okrika Local Government Area of the state.

Linda Somiari-Stewart, Deputy Majority Leader of the House and member representing Okrika Constituency, while presenting the petition, prayed the House, among other things, to enact a new law re-establishing the school and to advise the executive arm of government to rehabilitate and equip the school with modern facilities to enable it to play its role as a flagship institution for developing the human capital required to drive the blue economy in Rivers State.

The Speaker, in line with Assembly rules, referred the petition to the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions.

Also on Monday, the House received the report of the House Committee on Works on the challenges posed by blocked drainages and canals linking Rumuokwuta and Rumuokeada communities in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, which had resulted in the loss of property and lives.

Emilia Amadi, chairman of the committee, stressed the pitiable condition of Rumuokeada community as a result of erosion and implored the House to urge the Executive, through the Ministry of Works, to take steps to ensure that the community members are saved from the debilitating menace of flood and erosion that has caused them severe pain.

The House deferred debate on the report to another legislative day.