Governor Wike, who took over from Governor Amaechi on May 29, has decided to look into the sale of valued assets and withdrawal of funds by the last administration. He has also expressed optimism that President Muhammadu Buhari would support the probe as part of his promise to clamp down on corruption.
Set up yesterday, the five-member judicial commission of inquiry, which has 23 terms of reference, has Hon Justice George Omereji as its chairman and Dr Edith Chukwu, Chief Monday Ekekenta, Ven.Alex Usifo and Elder Ignatius Piegbara as members. Florence Fiberesima will serve as its secretary, while Dr Zacheaus Adango would serve as counsel to the commission.
Governor Wike said: “I am confident that President Muhammadu Buhari will support my administration in the quest to tackle the massive corruption that characterised the Amaechi administration. We are aware that the immediate past administration and her officials will resort to blackmail and propaganda for the purpose of diverting attention from their corrupt practices but we shall remain focused on the task of getting back Rivers State resources and assets.”
Inaugurating the commission yesterday at Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said they should investigate the sale of the Omoku 150MW gas power plant, the Afam 360MW gas turbine, the Trans-Amadi 136MW gas turbine and the Eleme 75MW gas turbine. He also said the commission of inquiry should investigate the mono-rail project and the sale of the Olympia Hotel by the Amaechi administration.
According to Governor Wike, other areas for the commission of inquiry to investigate include the non-execution of the contract for the construction of the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital after the payment of the sum of $39.2m to the supposed contractor. He added that it will also look at the disbursement or use by the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture of the sum of N2bn agricultural credit guarantee scheme funds and the withdrawal and expenditure of the accrued N96bn from the Rivers State Reserve Fund.
On the gas turbines, Governor Wike charged the commission to ascertain the circumstances of the sales by the Amaechi administration, identify the purchaser(s) of the gas turbines, the total cost for which they were sold and the whereabouts of the proceeds of their sale. He said the commission should also ascertain whether the transactions were conducted in line with extant laws of the state and also determine if the state still had any equity left in the gas turbines.
Governor Wike gave the judicial commission of inquiry one month to submit its report. Chairman Justice Omereji assured the governor that the commission would diligently carry out its duties in line with the terms of reference.
Submitting the final report of the Transition Committee, former deputy governor, Tele Ikuru, described the Amaechi’s administration as the most corrupt in the state's history. He added that the former governor expended N812m to furnish his personal residence at the expense of the state, while N4.96bn was spent on the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Hospital, with no structure on the ground.
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