EFCC Begins Probe of Amaechi’s Administration
Chibuike Amaechi
Davidson Iriekpen 

Strong indications emerged wednesday that the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced a
detailed investigation into some financial transactions
during the tenure of the immediate past Governor of Rivers
State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi.
The investigation, THISDAY gathered, was based on a
petition by a Port Harcourt-based group, The Integrity
Group, which on July 29, wrote to the EFCC, detailing three
instances of alleged corruption, graft and abuse of office
under Amaechi’s government.
In the petition, the group alleged that Rivers State electric
power projects were sold and the proceeds converted to
other uses through payments amounting to N60 billion to
three companies all located at Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt.
The petitioners alleged that the transfers, made in US
dollars, occurred within a space of one week between
December 1 and 8, 2014.
The Integrity Group also alleged that the proposed Karibi
Whyte Specialist Hospital in Port Harcourt was a failed
contract, which cost the state a whooping N4.63 billion in
what the petitioners described as questionable
circumstances.
In the third allegation in their petition to the EFCC, the group
stated that Amaechi as 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.
Responding to the petition, the EFCC in three separate
letters titled, “Investigation Activities”, and dated August 13,
2015, swung into a detailed probe of Amaechi’s dealings as
alleged by the petitioners.
All the three letters by the anti-graft commission exclusively
obtained by THISDAY, were signed by the Head, Economic
Governance, Olufunke Adetayo-Ogunbode.
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.”
In respect of the Karibi Whyte Specialist Hospital, the EFCC
also requested the permanent secretary to furnish it with
the following: MoU with Clinoriv Specialist Hospital and
Leisure Limited; evidence of due process in the award of the
contract; executive council resolution/approval; total sum
allocated for the project; account number and bank where
the funds were paid; status of the contract awarded to the
company; payment certificates issued/valuation reports;
contract award documents and; any other information that
will assist the commission in its investigation.
On the tax consultancy allegation, the EFCC asked the state
accountant-general to supply it with the following
information: Details of internally generated revenue
between 2007 to date; evidence of disbursement and five
per cent retained within the period; the MoU between the
state government and Messrs Collect Nigeria Limited; details
of due process in the award of the contract; details of
payment made to Messrs Collect Nig. Limited; House of
Assembly resolution/approval; state executives (that is, State
Executive Council) resolution/approval; and any other
information that will assist the commission in its
investigation.
The anti-graft commission concluded in each of the letters
that the request for the specific information in the on-going
investigation of the allegations against Amaechi’s
government was “made pursuant to Section 38 (1) and (2) of
the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004".
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/efcc-begins-probe-of-amaechi-s-administration/218620/

Isolryt...

I won't believe this till I see him in prison

Am very very very very very ok with that. #Maximum_satisfation.

Ok

He must rot in jail! shikena!!

It would've been put on hold until preliminary investigations by independent bodies be carried out and evidences (if any) given to the EFCC. The agency as presently constituted will unrope Amaechi.