Investigations have revealed how former Governor of Rivers State and All progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Rotimi Amaechi spent N500 million of Rivers State tax payers money on an event which failed to materialise.
According to investigations by Truly Nigeria, Amaechi struck a deal in 2012 with Monaco-based Swiss owned Crans Montana Forum (CMF) to organise a special event on Oil & Gas Security under the guise of an “International Homeland and Global Security Forum” with the hope of attracting the participation of major world leaders.
See an announcement of the event on CMF’s website here.This, according to findings, was done in the build up to the 2015 presidential election where Amaechi was expecting to be named the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC.Investigations reveal that Amaechi spent a whooping € 2 million (approximately ₦ 500 million) on registrations, travels, accommodation and meetings in Dubai among other expenses for an event which did not come to fruition.Maxine Menson, a Ghanaian and CEO 702 Productions facilitated the transaction between the Rivers State government and CMF with Ibim Semenitari, former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications represented the Rivers Government.Maxine had in July 2014, facilitated the Port Harcourt Energy, Environment and Investment Forum [EEIF] which failed to create the kind of buzz expected of the CMF forum, even with former Ghanaian president John Kuffour in attendance.Reasons why the CMF event failed to hold is yet to be demystified and it is yet to be seen if the money would be remitted to the coffers of the Rivers State Government.
