Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a final ultimatum to the management of Heirs Energies Limited, summoning the company to appear before it on Monday, July 20, 2026, or face the issuance of a warrant of arrest against its Managing Director. The resolution followed the company’s repeated failure to honour invitations by the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions regarding a petition filed by the Omuohoa Community in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area, over the alleged unfair termination of contract staff drawn from the community. The lawmakers, during the Fourth Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session on Monday, July 6, 2026, expressed displeasure at what they described as the company’s persistent disregard for the legislature’s summons.
Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, who presided over the plenary, warned that the Assembly would not tolerate such impudence. He cited Section 129 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which 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. Amaewhule directed the company’s management to appear before the House by 10:00 a.m. on the scheduled date, warning that failure to comply would leave the Assembly with no option but to invoke its constitutional powers to compel attendance. This marks the second time the House has rebuked the company for failing to appear before the committee; the Assembly had earlier expressed displeasure at Heirs Energies’ absence during last week’s sitting.
The summons stems from a petition filed by the Omuohoa Community Executive, accusing the energy firm of unfairly terminating contract workers who are community members and demanding their immediate reinstatement. The community had approached the Assembly after the company allegedly failed to respond to their grievances. Despite being invited by the House Committee on Public Petitions to respond to the allegations, Heirs Energies has yet to honour any of the committee’s invitations, prompting the Assembly to take a tougher stance. The lawmakers described the company’s continued absence as unacceptable and an affront to the legislature.
Amaewhule stated: “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.” He added that the House would not condone such disregard and would be forced to issue a warrant of arrest against the managing director if the company failed to appear on the new date.
In a related development, the Assembly also adopted recommendations from the Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions regarding an oil spillage on the 24-inch Ogale–Bonny Pipeline, reportedly caused by equipment failure of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited. The committee found the compensation of N205,813,285.65 offered to affected persons and the B-Dere community in Gokana Local Government Area to be fair and reasonable, given the degree of environmental damage. The House directed Renaissance to ensure a comprehensive clean-up and remediation of the impacted area in the interest of public health. The committee also reported that Renaissance had paid N120 million as compensation and carried out a medical outreach worth more than N100 million in line with the recommendation of an independent consultant.
In a separate resolution, the House directed Zest Optimal Global Services to commence payment of entitlements owed to sixteen workers previously disengaged from the company’s employment.
The Assembly reiterated its commitment to protecting the welfare, rights, and interests of constituents and ensuring accountability from corporate entities operating in the state. The lawmakers warned that they would not hesitate to invoke their constitutional powers, including the issuance of a warrant of arrest, should Heirs Energies continue to ignore the summons. Plenary was adjourned to Friday, July 10, 2026.
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