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.
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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