RSG To Prosecute Amaechi, Others …Ex-Commissioners Kick

The Rivers State Government has ordered the immediate prosecution of the former governor of the State, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, for sale of the state assets and embezzlement of over N97 billion accrued from the sales.
Also to face prosecution is the contractor who handled the abandoned multi-billion Naira Monorial project, Anthony Ukpo and some Commissioners who served in Amaechi’s government.
The former Commissioners include those of Finance, Dr. Chamberlin Peterside, Power, Augustine Nwokocha and Agriculture, Emma Chinda.
Addressing newsmen on Friday shortly after the State Executive Council, the State Commissioner for Housing, Emma Okah, said the former governor misappropriated the sum of N97 billion realized from the sale of the state valued assets.
Mr. Emma Okah maintained that, Amaechi, Anthony Ukpo and former Commissioner for Finance wasted billions of Naira without due process on Monorail, and sale of three gas turbines among others assets in the state.
He also disclosed that the former Commissioner for Finance and Power would be prosecuted for sale of gas turbines in Omoku, Trans-Amadi, Eleme and Afam without due process.
Okah also told newsmen that the former commissioner for Agriculture, Chinda, would face prosecution over N3 billion agricultural loan obtained by the Amaechi administration.
The would-be prosecution followed the reports of the Justice George Omereji-led Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the sale of State owned assets by the Amaechi government. The reports were said to be indicated Amaechi and some of his commissioners.
However, the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioners in the Amaechi’s administration in the state have insisted that, the sale of gas turbine was in order.
Former Chief of Staff in the state, Glory Emeh who reacted to the report of the panel of inquiry said the sale of gas turbines was the right thing to do, if the government has no enough fund to mention them.
Also, former Commissioner of Information, Mrs Ibim Seminitari-led other former Commissioners to address a press conference on Saturday in Port Harcourt.
They described the claims by the Omereji panel of Inquiry as a mischief and a desperate attempt to reduce Amaechi’s towering status.
Also speaking former Commissioner for Finance, Chamberlin Peterside, explained that, between 2-13 and early 2015, the revenue accruing to the state reduced from an average of N20 billion to N9 billion and N10 billion by the middle of the first quarter of 2015.
He said, salaries alone stood at over N9 billion beside other expenses.
According to him, the setback in the allocation made the state government to withdraw over N40 billion from the state savings after following due process.
He added that the N40 billion was duly approved by the State House of Assembly, while the expenditure were duly captured and appropriated.