By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Rivers State Government, led by Nyesome Wike has filed criminal charges against his predecessor and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi over the alleged misuse of N96billion which accrued from the sales of state assets.
Amaechi had on May 27 lost an application seeking to stop a corruption probe against him at the Supreme Court by a commission of enquiry instituted by Governor Wike.
The commission had looked into alleged sale of assets belonging the the state government by Amaechi during his tenure as Governor of Rivers State.
The affected public assets include Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel and the award of contract for the execution of Mono Rail Project.
Also joined in the suit is an energy firm, Sahara Energies indicted in the alleged corrupt deals.
Wike announced the decision of the state government to prosecute Amaechi and the firm on Friday while swearing in three new Commissioners at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Commissioners sworn in are, Professor Zaccheaus Adangor (SAN) who is to continue in his former office as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Isaac Kamalu who is also re-appointed as Commissioner for Finance, while third candidate, Alabo George-Kelly will be in charge of the State Ministry of Works and also oversee the affairs of his former office on Special Project.
Sahara Energies is co-founded by a businessman, Tonye Cole who is now the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.
Governor Wike also directed the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Rivers State to write a strong protest letter to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) to stop what he called harassment of the immediate past Accountant General of the State, Siminialayi Fubara who is now the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State.
Governor Wike was reacting to the recent attempt by the Commission to arrest Mr. Fubara at the Port Harcourt International Airport on his return from Abuja, after he was issued the Certificate of Return by the National Leadership of the PDP.
The EFCC had admitted making such attempt, but said its men were prevented by armed thugs who attacked the operatives.
Governor Wike says the state will be forced to file for contempt if the EFCC continues the harassment, saying the Commission has been restrained by courts of competent jurisdiction from investigating the accounts of the Rivers State Government.
Mr. Fubara and other top officials of the Rivers State Government were declared wanted over an alleged fraud of N117Biliion.
