Déjà Vu: Rivers Attorney-General Adangor, SAN Resigns For The Second Time, Rejects Redeployment Amid Alleged Interference

Prof. Z. Adangor, SAN, the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, has tendered his resignation from the state’s executive council.

The resignation comes on the heels of a cabinet reshuffle that saw Prof. Adangor being redeployed to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office).

In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, Prof. Adangor not only rejected his redeployment but also announced his decision to resign from the executive council effective April 24, 2024.

The letter, which has been widely circulated on social media, highlights growing tensions within the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Fubara had through the office of the SSG redeployed Adangor to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office) and the commissioner for finance, Isaac Kamalu, to the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment.

The governor said their transfers took immediate effect and asked them to hand over to the permanent secretaries of their various ministries.

But in his letter of rejection and resignation, Adangor said he was no longer willing to continue to serve in Fubara’s administration in any capacity whatsoever.

He said Fubara had in the past couple of weeks interfered with his job as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

He said Fubara directed him not to defend, oppose or appear in suits instituted against his office and the Rivers Government by persons admittedly hired and sponsored by the government.

He said: “I want to state for the records that I am no longer willing to continue to serve in the administration of His Excellency, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara in any capacity whatsoever.

“It is important to mention that the Governor of Rivers State in the past couple of weeks willfully interfered with the performance of my duties as the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice by directing me not to defend, oppose, or appear in suits instituted against the Attorney-General and the state government by individuals admittedly hired and sponsored by the government of rivers state.

“Having served the government and good people of Rivers State dutifully, as a member of the Rivers State executive council for five years, it has become imperative for me to quit the administration in order to preserve my reputation. I wish the administration of His Excellency well.”