JUST IN: Gov Wike goes after Amaechi, files criminal charges against former minister

The Rivers State government, led by Nyesome Wike has filed criminal charges against the immediate former minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday directed the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zaccheaus Adangor to file criminal charges against the immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over the alleged misuse of N96 billion proceeds of the sales of state assets.

Wike had in 2020 set up a commission to investigate the sale of significant assets including the Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine and Olympia Hotel by Amaechi’s administration in the state.

The Supreme Court dismissed the ex-governor’s move to stop the investigation last month.

READ ALSO: Supreme Court gives Wike go-ahead to probe Amaechi over alleged N96bn fraud

Wike announced the decision to prosecute the former minister and an energy firm indicted in the deals, Sahara Energies, at the swearing in three new Commissioners at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers, Tonye Cole, is a co-founder of Sahara Energies.

The governor also directed the attorney general to write a strong letter of protest to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), AbdulRasheed Bawa, over alleged harassment of the state’s former Accountant General, Siminialayi Fubara.

The commission had on May 24 declared Fubara, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state and 58 others wanted for alleged N435 billion fraud.

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