News
Sale Of Assets: Amaechi, Ukpo, Cole, Six Ex-Commissioners For Prosecution
The former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Chairman of Sahara Energy Resources, Tonye Cole, ex-military administrator, Brigadier Anthony Ukpo (rtd) and six former commissioners for Health, Power, Transport, Commerce, Finance and Agriculture, are to face prosecution for the sales and buying of state-owned assets, a White Paper on the Justice George Omeregi Commission report has recommended.
The White Paper on the panel report released over the weekend by the State Executive Council after a meeting on Thursday, directed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to immediately commence judicial process of recovering the assets.
Briefing newsmen on the details of the report, Commissioner for Housing, Barrister Emma Okah, stated that the sales of the 70 per cent equity share of the four gas power turbines at Omoku, Eleme, Trans-Amadi and Afam, totalling 621 megawatts at the cost of $800,000 per unit to Sahara NG HPS Limited was unjustifiable and against the interest of the state.
It also said the transaction was not transparent as NG Power HPS Ltd was yet to pay an outstanding balance of $28.4 million, after it acquired the power plants below market price of $432 million, even though actual balance was $146.5 million.
On the sale of Olympia Hotel, the report also picked holes in the concessioning agreement leasing the property for 40 years to one Centro Sarotem Hotel Limited for a fee of $1miilion equivalent to about N55.7million. While the actual sum of $2.4 million was to be paid, the cumulative concession value of the property and land was put at $3.450 million.
In the words of Okah, “the commission called for the review of the concession agreement covering the value of land, deduction of concession and for non-employment of Rivers State indigenes”.
Okah revealed that the commission further uncovered an illegal account opened by the Ministry of Commerce where about $155.7 million from the hotel concession was lodged.
“The account was opened by the ministry without the requisite authorization of the Accountant–General of the State,”Okah stated.
On the Monorail Project, the white paper indicted former military administrator of old Rivers State, Brigadier Anthony Ukpo, whose company, TSI Ltd had entered into a partnership agreement with Rivers State Government on the project.
While the state government was to contribute 20 per cent and TSI 80 per cent, yet the private partner never contributed as the state invested over N35 billion, which N11 billion was paid to Rivers State Monorail Company Limited managed by TSI Ltd.
The white paper called for the recovery of the fund from the company, Amaechi and former Transport Commissioner, George Tolofari, who were the masterminds of the failed project, as it frowned at the huge sum paid to Argus Gibbs a consultancy firm on the project at the tune of N696million since it contravened Section 52 of the State Procurement Law No4 of 2008.
The White Paper also directed the Attorney–General and Commissioner for Justice to commence legal proceedings to recover funds meant for the planned Adolphus Karibi Whyte Mega Hospital which never saw the light of the day.
The hospital initially conceived under private partnership deal shared funding between the state and one Clinotech Ltd 40 to 60 per cent.
While the state government contributed its own funding of $39 million, Clinotech failed in its obligation.
As if that was not enough, the report revealed that the state government went further to release a new Clinotech Turnkey project to the tune of N150 million as mobilization fee.
“The commission found that Clinotech Turnkey Management Ltd got N200 million paid in excess with nothing to show”, the report further revealed.
The report picked holes in the disbursement of the N2billion agric loan. The panel found that in June 2014 the past administration had accessed the loan from the Central Bank with plans to disburse to qualified agric cooperatives societies, but rather than do so, it gave the loans to politicians and cronies.
“About 282 cooperatives societies were hurriedly registered in 2014, while 38 were never registered at all,” according to the report.
The commission also found that the various local government chairmen were made managers of the fund, and therefore, called on former Governor Amaechi, the Agric Commissioner and those who disbursed the fund against the loan guidelines to be prosecuted and made to refund the monies.
On the State Reserve Fund, the panel found that over N38billion was saved in the account set up in 2008.
The fund grew to about N55billion in 2014 through investments. But in March 2014, the Rivers State House of Assembly passed a bill to remove the emergency clause to withdraw monies from the fund.
The amendment gave room for the withdrawal of N53billion between February 2014 to March 2015.
According to the panel, “the attempt by Governor Amaechi to withdraw the last N1.2 billion was prevented by some government institutions.”
The White Paper recommended that the ex-governor and principal officers of the House be prosecuted, while the former Secretary to the State Government be made to refund sum of N400million withdrawn in March and another N170 million withdrawn on 25th March.
The report also directed the owner of Orosi House to be made to account for about N300million for the lease of the property in 2012, even after the building had been gutted by fire some years before.
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi