The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced
probe on the administration of the immediate past governor of Rivers
state, of Rotimi Amaechi. According to a report by ThisDay, the probe comes after a
Port
Harcourt-based group, The Integrity Group, petitioned EFCC on July 29th,
accusing the former governor of corruption, graft and
abuse of office while he served as governor.
According to the petition
filed by the group, Governor Amaechi allegedly sold the Rivers State
Electric Power
projects and the revenue generated were converted to other uses through
payments amounting to N60 billion to three companies all located at
Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt.
The group also allege that the proposed Karibi Whyte
Specialist Hospital in Port Harcourt which was initiated by the former governor, was a failed contract which cost
the state a whooping N4.63 billion. They say the circumstances leading to the failure of the contract is questionable.The group also allege that the former governor, appointed a firm of tax consultants, which was given a relatively exorbitant fee of 12 per cent of taxes collected on a much lower monthly collection target of N2.5 billion, even as the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service was raking in about N7.5 billion monthly at five per cent administrative cost, as prescribed by law. The consultants were said to have collected over N1.5 billion in fees within weeks of their being engaged by Amaechi’s government.
EFCC operatives responded to the petition in three separate letters titled,
“Investigation Activities”, and dated August 13, 2015 and immediately swung into a
detailed probe of Amaechi’s dealings as alleged by the group.
While two of the letters with reference numbers CR:
30/EFCC/ABJ/EG/T4/Vol.26/386 and CR: 30/EFCC/ABJ/EG/T4/Vol.26/379,
respectively were addressed to the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry
of Finance, in respect of the sale of the state power projects as well
as Clinoriv Specialist Hospital and Leisure Limited, which was engaged
to have constructed the still-born Karibi Whyte Specialist Hospital, the
third one with reference number CR: 30/EFCC/ABJ/EG/T4/Vol.26/380 was
addressed to the state Accountant-General in respect of the activities
of Messrs Collect Nigeria Limited on the collection of internally
generated revenue (IGR) on behalf of the state.
One of the EFCC letters to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Finance, read in part: “The commission is investigating a case of
conspiracy, abuse of office and fraud. In view of the above, you are
kindly requested to furnish the following: Details of all the assets
sold to the NG Power-HPS Limited; total amount received and the account
it was paid into; Sales Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding; House of
Assembly resolution/approval; investments made from the proceeds if any;
documents indicating due process; and any other information that will
assist the commission in its investigation.”
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