The Rivers state government has filed a fresh charge against ex-Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi over a N96bn fraud committed while he was governor of the state.
The state government is suing Amaechi alongside Tonye Cole, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, for allegedly selling off state assets, according to ThisDay
Zacchaeus Adangor, Rivers attorney-general, confirmed the development.
Recall that Nyesom Wike, Rivers governor, had constituted 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.
The panel had 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 since insisted that he is not guilty of fraud.
However, on May 27, 2022, the supreme court dismissed an application by Amaechi challenging the probe.
Consequently, the Rivers governor directed the state’s attorney-general to commence immediate prosecution of the former governor as well as Cole and five others.
