‘N96bn fraud’: We have filed charges against Amaechi, says Wike

Nyesom Wike, Rivers governor, says the state has filed a suit against Rotimi Amaechi, former governor, over alleged fraud.

Wike had set up a seven-man panel to probe Amaechi over an alleged withdrawal of N96 billion from the state’s treasury during the latter’s tenure as governor.

The panel had also investigated issues surrounding the “sale of assets” by the former governor.

The listed valuable assets are Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel, and the contract award for the execution of Mono Rail Project.

The panel submitted its report in 2015, while Amaechi has insisted that he is not guilty of fraud.

However, on May 27, 2022, the supreme court dismissed an application by Amaechi, challenging the probe.

Wike, while swearing in three new commissioners at the government house in Port Harcourt on Friday, announced that criminal charges have been filed against the former governor, as well as Sahara Energy, a firm indicted in the deals.

The firm is co-founded by Tonye Cole, a businessman and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state.

Wike directed Zaccheus Adangor, the state attorney-general, to commence immediate prosecution.

“Attorney-general, you’re at a critical period where people want to know what the state is going to do with the judiciary panel of inquiry after the supreme court judgment on it,” he said.

“Luckily, you came at the right time when we have preferred criminal charges against the former governor (Amaechi), Sahara Energy, Tonye Cole and the rest of them.

“So, you are coming at the right time to take over the matter and to make sure it is prosecuted diligently. I don’t want to hear excuses. Let the people see what happened to our money.

“The world will see how $50 million from our account was moved to a company without anything to show whether there was a business.”