Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has set up a judicial commission on Friday, June 19, 2015 to investigate the administration of former governor Rotimi Amaechi to ascertain the sale of the Omoku 150 megawatts gas turbine, Afam 360 MW gas turbine, Trans Amadi 136 MW gas trubine and the Eleme 75 MW gas turbine.
The five-man panel is to be chaired by Justice George Omereji.
The panel is to resolve around the assets and financial transactions of the past administration with 33 terms of reference bothering on identifying those who purchased the state’s assets and where the proceeds of the assets are.
While inaugurating the panel at Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike pep talked the members into investigating the sale of Olympia Hotel, the Mono-rail project, the non-execution of the contract for the Justice Adolphus Karibi Whye Specialist Hospital where the sum of $32.20 million was reportedly paid to the contractor, the disbursement by the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture the sum of N2 billion agricultural credit guarantee scheme to the supposed contractor.
“You are mandated to probe the withdrawal and expenditure of the accrued N96 billion from the Rivers State reserve fund without compliance with River state fund law No. 2 of 2008.
“identify the purchaser of the gas turbines, total costs for which they were sold and the whereabouts of the proceeds of their sale.
“Ascertain whether the transaction was conducted with the requisite transparency and accountability in accordance with provisions of extant laws in force in Rivers State, determine if the government of the people of Rivers state have any equity left in the said gas turbines and the value of such equity.
“Ascertain the terms of the sale of the Olympia Hotel, the price at which was sold and where the proceeds of the sale were domiciled.
“Identify the persons to whom Olympia hotel was sold, ascertain whether the sale of the hotel is in conformity with international standard,” Governor Wike stated.
He further requested that the panel conduct a public hearing to get the views of the public as it concerns its terms of reference.
The panel was given 30 days to submit the report.
