Wike orders prosecution of Amaechi over ‘missing N97bn’

The Rivers State government has directed Chinwe Aguma, the commissioner for justice, to commence the prosecution of Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of the state, and some members of his cabinet for misappropriation of the state’s resources.

Emma Okah, the state commissioner for housing, said the directive was in line with the recommendation of the panel which probed Amaechi’s administration.

The panel submitted its report to the governor on Wednesday but Amaechi denied all the allegations, saying the administration of Wike was only trying to stop him from being a member of Buhari’s cabinet.

But Okah said Wike was only interested in recovering “funds belonging to Rivers state” based on the recommendations of the panel.

“You will agree with me that the Omereji commission had several terms of references and wqe will be taking them one after the other. The first term of reference is to ascertain the sale of the Omoku 150 megawatts gas turbine; Afam 360 megawatts gas turbine; Trans-Amadi 136 megawatts gas turbine and the Eleme 75 megawatts gas turbine by the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi,” he said.

“The commission finds as a fact that the sale of 70% equity from the First Independent Power Limited in Omoku gas turbine, Trans-Amadi gas turbine, Afam Phase I gas turbine and Eleme gas turbine, have been very difficult to justify. They have therefoe recommended the review of sale of the power assets and the government of Rivers State has accepted that recommendation.

“Refund of proceeds by Rotimi Amaechi , Chamberlain Peterside, and Augustine Nwokocha. In furtherance of this findings that the sale of the four gas turbines was unjustifiable and against the interest of the government and people of Rivers State.

“The commission recommends that the former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, along with his former commissioners for Finance and Power , Dr. Chamberlain Peterside and Augustine Nwokocha, respectively, should be held to account for their roles in the sales of the power generation assets of First Independent Power Limited and the disbursement of the proceeds there from.

“Government accepts this recommendation and directs the office of the Honorable Attorney-General and commissioner for Justice, to promptly set in motion the appropriate machinery for the recovery of the proceeds of the sale of the gas turbines from the former governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and every other persons implicated in the commission’s report.”