The government of Rivers state, has ordered former governor Rotimi Amaechi, and his alleged collaborators, to return about N100 billion, said to have been siphoned from the state.
A white paper was released to this effect on Friday, by the state government, based on the recommendations of the commission of inquiry set up to probe the alleged sale of assets of the state as well as some activities of the administration of Amaechi.
Commissioner for Housing, Emma Okah, stated this while speaking to journalists on Friday, in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Okah said the alleged sale and lease of valuable Rivers state assets by the former government did not follow due process.
He revealed that the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Emma Aguma, would soon begin proceedings in court to recover the alleged missing money.
“You will agree with me that the Omereji commission had several terms of references and we will be taking them one after the other. The first term of reference is to ascertain the sale of the Omoku 150 megawatts gas turbine; Afam 360 megawatts gas turbine; Trans-Amadi 136 megawatts gas turbine and the Eleme 75 megawatts gas turbine by the administration of former Governor Chibhike Rotimi Amaechi.
“The commission finds as a fact that the sale of 70% equity from the First Independent Power Limited in Omoku gas turbine, Trans-Amadi gas turbine, Afam Phase I gas turbine and Eleme gas turbine, have been very difficult to justify. They have therefore recommended the review of sale of the power assets and the government of Rivers State has accepted that recommendation.
“Refund of proceeds by Chibuike Amaechi , Chamberlain Peterside, and Augustine Nwokocha. In furtherance of this findings that the sale of the four gas turbines was unjustifiable and against the interest of the government and people of Rivers State.
“The commission recommends that the former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, along with his former commissioners for Finance and Power , Dr. Chamberlain Peterside and Augustine Nwokocha, respectively, should be held to account for their roles in the sales of the power generation assets of First Independent Power Limited and the disbursement of the proceeds there from.”
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