The much-awaited probe of previous administrations may have kick-started with the PDP government in Rivers State casting the first stone.
Gov- ernor Nyesom Wike has set up a five man judicial commission of enquiry for the investigation of the administration of the immediate past administration of ex-governor Rotimi Amaechi with respect to the sale of valued assets of Rivers state and other related matters.
The commission of enquiry was mandated to investigate the sale of 150MW gas turbine, Afam 360 MW gas turbine, trans Amadi 136 MW gas turbine, and Eleme 75 Mw Gas Turbine, others include the sale of Olympia hotel, the Mono rail project, the non-execution of the contract for the construction of Justice Adolphus Karibe- Whyte specialist hospital after the pay- ment of 39,200,000, dollars to the supposed project.
The commission would further investigate the disbursement or the use by the Rivers State ministry of agriculture of the total amount of N2 billion agricultural credit guarantee scheme funds as well as the withdrawal and expenditure of the accrued N96Bn from the Rivers State Reserve Fund without compliance with the Rivers State fund Law No 2 of 2008.
Members of the commission of enquiry include Hon Justice George Omereji who is to chair the commission, Edith Chukwu, Monday Ekerenta, Alex Usifo, a rev- erend canon and Ignatius Piegbara as members.
They were granted full pow- ers and authority to hold public hearing into the said matters.
However Florence Fiberesima was appointed the secretary and Zaccheaus Adango the council to the commission.
The terms of reference given said that the commission shall ascertain the circumstances of the sale of the said items, identify the purchaser(s), the amount and where the proceeds were put.
They would further ascertain if the transaction was conducted with transparency and accountability in accordance with the provisions of the laws in force in the state.
The commission would find out those who bought the Olympia ho- tel and if the sale was in conformity with the international best practices and also ascertain the terms of the construction of the monorail project as well as other things involved in it including the cost.
Governor Wike also among other points of reference man- dated the commission to ascertain the cost of the proposed Justice Adolphus Karibe-Whyte special- ist hospital and every other thing involved in it.
Others include the N2billion under the agricultural credit guar- antee scheme disbursed by the state ministry of agriculture if it was in accordance with the terms as well as ascertain the identities of the coop- erative societies or the beneficiaries would further ascertain the amount of mon- ey accrued from the mandatory monthly contribution of N1 billion by the state government into the state reserve fund, pursuant to the Rivers State Reserve Fund Law no 2 of 2008, and determine the total amount disbursed from the fund and for what purposes.
The commission was granted the power to make recommenda- tions for the proceeds of the sale of the gas turbines, make recom- mendation with regards to the mono rail, Justice Karibe Whyte specialist hospital etc. It was given one month to submit its reports.
This has led to calls for exten- sion of the probe to periods cover- ing Wike service as Chief of Staff and contracts said to have been awarded to him. There are also calls for probe of the PDP administra- tion at the national level now that the probes have begun.
IGNATIUS CHUKWU & SABY ELEMBA, Port Harcourt
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