10th June, 2022
By Okafor Ofiebor
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has directed the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice to begin diligent prosecution of the illegal financial dealings of governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Mr. Tonye Cole, Sahara Energy and others over the sale of state assets.
Wike gave the directive on Friday at the Executive Chamber of Government House, Port Harcourt, after swearing in three new commissioners.
He said: “Attorney General, you’re at a critical period where people want to know what the State is going to do with the Judiciary Panel of Inquiry after the Supreme Court judgement on it.
“Luckily, you came at the right time when we have preferred criminal charges against the former governor (Amaechi), Sahara Energy, Tonye Cole and the rest of them.”
Wike said there was need for Rivers people and the rest of the world to know what actually happened to the $50 million that disappeared from state’s account without a proof of business where it was deployed.
“So, you are coming at the right time to take over the matter and to make sure it is prosecuted diligently. I don’t want to hear excuses. Let the people see what happened to our money.
“The world will see how $50 million from our account was moved to a company without nothing to show whether there was a business,” he said.
Wike commended the newly sworn-in commissioners who had shown capacity, loyalty and commitment in previous assignments without excuses.
He informed that he would be careful in constituting his cabinet to the full because at such twilight of his administration, only people with undivided loyalty were needed to ensure a good ending.
“I want to commend three of you that you have shown commitment, you have shown hard work, you have shown loyalty. And for me, that is the only way to pay back the people who have shown in spite of all odds, they are still there with you,” he said.