Amaechi loses bid to stop probe of his tenure

The Rivers state government has been given the go-ahead to probe the administration of former governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

Dismissing a suit filed by Amaechi on Thursday, Justice Simeon Amadi of the Rivers state high court said the constitution of the Justice Odedeji-led judicial commission of inquiry was in order.

Nyesom Wike, Amaechi’s successor, had set up the panel to probe the sale of state assets by the past administration.

Justice Amadi said the inquiry was not established to investigate the personal activities of the former governor but to investigate previous actions of government as they affect the people of the state.

Wike, he ruled, was empowered by the provisions of the law to establish the inquiry and “there is no law preventing a state government from finding out how her resources were expended”.

He said Amaechi cannot disburse and expend funds of the state government and turn around to claim such powers belong to the national assembly.

He also dismissed the claim by Amaechi that the 30 days set aside for the sitting of the commission would deny him fair hearing.

The court said the former governor was yet to file a memorandum before the commission and has not appeared before it, hence “he cannot complain that he was not given fair hearing”.

Amaechi was governor between 2007 and 2015.