Nigeria, March 26 -- A State High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ruled that Celestine Omehia is not a former governor of the state and as such, not entitled to pensions and other benefits meant for former governors and their deputies.

The judge, Daketima Kio, who gave the ruling, however dismissed as lacking in merit the claim by the state government that Mr Omehia should refund N695 million which he collected as pensions.

Justice Kio held that Mr Omehia did not compel anybody to pay him the said money, Channels Television reported but did not state when the ruling was given.

Mr Omehia instituted the suit against the state government.

Rotimi Amaechi, who was then Speaker of Rivers Assembly, won the Peoples Democratic Party ...