The Rivers State government has filed a fresh criminal charge against a former governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.
Amaechi, who was also Minister of Transportation, was sued alongside governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Tonye Cole for allegedly selling off state assets.
The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Zacchaeus Adangor, confirmed this development to THISDAY newspapers.
Governor Nyesom Wike had set up a seven-man panel to probe Amaechi over the alleged withdrawal of N96 billion from the state’s treasury during the latter’s tenure as governor between 2007 and 2015.
The panel also investigated issues surrounding the “sale of assets” by the former governor.
The listed 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 the Mono Rail Project.
The panel submitted its report in 2015, but Amaechi has repeatedly insisted that he is not guilty of fraud.
Last 27th May, the Supreme Court dismissed Amaechi’s application challenging the probe.
Consequently, Wike directed the state’s attorney-general to commence immediate prosecution of the former governor as well as Cole and five others.
He also said that criminal charges were also filed against Sahara Energy, a firm said to have been indicted in the deals. The company was co-founded by Cole.
