Few days ago, precisely on the 17th of October, 2016. The attention of
Dame lbifuro Thompson Tatua, the National Coordinator of the NIGER DELTA
PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT was drawn to the malicious and feeble letter purportedly
written by Justice John lnyang Okoro JSC to the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Claiming that the Hon. Minister of Transportation Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi and Pastor Ebebe Ukpong visited his official residence to request he
perverts justice in favour of the APC in Rivers State and other States.
Ironically, the embattled Justice Okoro has chickened out on his financiers by
denying knowledge or writing such letter to the CJN, the Nigerian Bar
Association has also reversed it's earlier decision of declaring a judicial
state of emergency if the Judges are not released and the confiscated money
returned to them and thrown its full weight behind President Buuari's zeal to
rid the judiciary of corrupt officials. The most respected Pastor Ebebe Ukpong has also published his
statement, referring to the said allegation as false and fabricated lies coming
from the pit of hell.
Sadly, the attention of Niger Delta People's Movement has been drawn to
another criminal audacity of a hopeless corrupt sycophant, Justice Sylvester Uwguta
and his paid callous blackmail intent against the person and name of Rt Hon.
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as contained in his letter dated 18th October, 2016 and
addressed to the CJN. Alleging that, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi actually
approached him on behalf of APC to redirect justice. We view these attempts as
very laughable and juvenile to the core.
The Niger Delta People's Movement
are still not deterred nor repulsed by those barrage of blackmails
against Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by your Lordship, Justice Sylvester with the
giddy overlordship of some fellows who goes by the tag "mistaken
leaders" moving in frenziedly from the Bohemian farce to the apocalyptic.
The attempt by your Lordships and some governors to reduce our judiciary to a
mockery stock is very pathetic. Our question again is, are your Lordships
ignorant of section 23(1), (2) and (3) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and
Related Offences Commission Act 2000, despite it's clear provision?.
May we remind your Lordship, Justice Sylvester Ugwuta and his script
writers that, reputation attained cheaply, can be easily lost and very fast
too. Your Lordships indiscretion in bribery and perversion of justice has
rebound, the law of retributive return is at work. While investigation into
your sudden stupendous wealth is ongoing with the DSS, Niger Delta People's
Movement will urge your Lordship to redirect your energy on how to pull
yourself out of your handmade shameful mess and desist from dragging Amaechi's name with you or we will be forced
to seek legal redress in the Court of appropriate jurisdiction.
The Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is
humble and taciturn. He is synonymous with the campaign for a free corruption
society. He is every inch a gentleman, a leader per excellence who does not
over estimate himself and his abilities, hence he is always willing to seek
knowledge for infrastructural and human development.
Face your warrant, your Lordship, Amaechi is not DSS.
Signed:
Rowland Orlu
Director of Communication.
THE NIGER DELTA PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT
The "Rivers government Amnesty program", is an evil and
criminal conspiracy, between the principal actors of the "Rivers political
violence/killings" and governor Nyesom Wike. The actual motive, is to
shield and protect all those that were used to orchestrate the bloodiest
ascension to the seat of power, ever witnessed in the entire political history
of Rivers State.
Those targeted and captured by the so-called "Rivers
amnesty", are persons already declared wanted by the Nigerian
police/military authorities. They are criminal culprits, directly connected and
implicated in several reported politically motivated murder cases, assassinations
and arsons of very high degrees.
You will recollect that, in the lawsuit filled by Wike, against the
relocation of the Rivers election tribunal from Port-Harcourt to Abuja,
"Wike/PDP VS DAKUKU/APC", the learned Justices of the Supreme Court,
did emphatically state and clearly held in her judgement that, "Rivers
State was like a theater of war in the periods before, during and after the
2015 general elections and that the life of judiciary workers cannot be put at
risk, hence it was right and lawful to have relocated the Rivers Election
Tribunals to Abuja".
That judgement, was a perfect summarization and reflection of what
truly transpired in Rivers State. It then simply means that, no meaningful
election would've held in a place where the Supreme Court, by their judgement,
confirmed that "human life was not safe", but at perpetual risk. It
is on record that well over one-hundred(100) persons or more, may have died,
with several hundreds of others injured and properties worth millions of Naira,
destroyed within the said period in Rivers state.
The worst case scenario in this regard, is a situation where the
so-called amnesty beneficiaries are still killing, kidnapping and attacking
those they perceive as enemies to the incumbent governor, while the
police/security agents remains aloof.
Recently, Wike's amnesty beneficiaries and intending beneficiaries
alike, assassinated Barr, Kenneth Atsuete, the famous Rivers APC's foremost
lawyer and Hon. Boris Neewi, an APC stalwart.
The "Rivers amnesty committee", has on several occasions
lamented her frustration and expressed doubts/disappointment, stating
publicly that the types of arms and ammunitions been
submitted/surrendered by these dreaded killers, armed robbers, cultists and
kidnappers, as they show-up to accept the 'rogue amnesty', is not commensurate
to the type of sophisticated weaponry, they have been using to wreck havoc on
Rivers people.
The boys in their large numbers, come out from their hideouts(camps)
with a few locally made guns and cutlasses, after they have properly concealed
their sophisticated weapons. They deceptively appear in public to accept the
said amnesty, which instantly earns them Wike's "state pardon", and
automatically shields them from the law, which by extension protects them from
any form of arrest or prosecution by law enforcement agents, no matter the
crime they may have committed.
Apparently, the security agents, before now, acting upon series of
complains and petitions, had swung into action, thereby successfully catching
up with and closing-in on many of the big actors/perpetrators of the Rivers
political killings/violence, with many
of the kingpins already "declared wanted", such as Igwe Dibia Ejima
aka "Don Wani" and Solomon Ndebgara aka "Bin-Ladin". Then,
the only way-out for them, becomes the 'rogue amnesty', after they have been
investigated and found liable for the killing of many innocent souls, to the
benefit of Nyesom Wike.
Therefore, it must be known to all, that governor Wike purposely
designed and programmed the 'Rivers amnesty' for cultist, kidnappers, armed
robbers, many of whom had already been investigated and found to be directly
linked to series of crimes for which the police/military has declared them
wanted, thereby shield these confirmed criminals from the eyes of the law and
law enforcement authorities.
As such, "Rivers amnesty" as put in place by governor Wike,
is simply a deceit and a criminal conspiracy between the governor and those he
used to violently climb unto the seat of power.
It is common knowledge that Nyesom Wike violently & forcefully
became governorship flag-bearer of our party(PDP). He worked in concert with
Mrs Patience Jonathan and Bro. Felix Obuah to snatch a gubernatorial ticket
that was zoned/meant for the Rivers "Riverine people". They empowered
and deployed numerous cult groups,
activated all reachable criminals and militants to intimidate and bully the
then National leadership of our party and also bullied on the entire members of
Rivers PDP, an action in clear disregard to the opinion and desire of our
leader, H.E. Ebele Jonathan.
Our party members(gubernatorial aspirants), who attempted to protest or
resist Wike at any point in time, were brazenly beaten-up, brutalized and
secretly threatened to submission.
In connivance with compromised security agencies and the then Rivers
REC(Gesila Khan), who is now facing criminal charges for bribery/corruption
connected to electoral fraud in Rivers state. Election results were
fabricated/concocted in favor of Wike/PDP in Rivers State, while a
conglomeration of cult groups, militants & dreaded criminal gangs were
adequately activated and mobilized to unleash terror on anyone or group that
attempted to challenge what was going on.
However, as expected, after the elections, the cult groups and criminal
gangs became emboldened in their nefarious acts, which culminated to the
heightened insecurity that has engulfed Rivers state till date. Upon assumption
of office, all attempts by Wike(Rivers PDP) to secretly disarm these groups and
characters he used to orchestrate the worst political violence in the entire
history of Rivers State, couldn't materialize. Not even the juicy political
positions and contracts he gave to the kingpins of these criminals and gangs,
could change a thing. Amnesty(state pardon) to the criminals, became the
option, since he doesn't posses the will power to fight them, simply because
they are his associates and loyalist.
If the President Buhari led federal government continue to look the
other way, and Wike is allowed to succeed completely with this ongoing evil
plot, Rivers state will continue to remain under siege by state government
created/sponsored cult gangs and militant groups as it is now. While the same
scenario that played out in 2014/2015 in Rivers state will definitely repeat
again by 2018/2019 elections, and might even take a worst dimension, more than
what we had in the past, because if the feelers we are getting, that the Rivers
APC is now planning to adopt/execute the same violent approach Wike used and
still using, then Rivers State will become a bloody battle ground by the next
elections.
It is worthy to note that, If not for the vigilance of Governor Adams
Oshomole, Wike almost succeeded in exporting his model of electoral violence to
Edo State during their recently held gubernatorial election, Just like he did
during the Bayelsa election.
I wonder why this would be happening, irrespective of the fact that the
incumbent president, on assumption of office, acknowledged the political
killings and violences that enveloped Rivers state, which he promised to look
into and bring the perpetrators to book.
On the other hand, going by the manner, in which the president Buhari
led federal government tackled and fought the BokoHaram, IPOB and NDA security
menaces, one begins to wonder why the Rivers state case of political insurgence
would be treated differently!!
Why didn't President Buhari give amnesty to BokoHaram, IPOB & NDA
terrorists/militants, as seen in Rivers state?
I use this medium to remind and call on President Muhamadu Buhari to
live up to his promise regards 'Rivers political violence'. I also beckon on
the DSS, Police and the military to urgently rise up to the occasion in Rivers
State and checkmate this evil design called "Rivers amnesty program", by desperate governor
Wike, whose violent tactics is common knowledge to all and sundry.
As soon as the Department of State Services (DSS), in obedience to
relevant laws of the land relating to arrest and detention, released arrested
Justices on personal recognition within 24 hours of arrest, a certain mixed
feelings enveloped yours truly. Over time, the mixed feelings quickly
transmuted into a cross breed of fear and eeriness.
The reason for what looked like my needless worry was because going by
the peculiar tendencies of our countrymen to convolute the air especially when
caught in the act of doing evil, I very well knew that corruption will fight
back with an uncommon ferocity never known before. After all, the bursting of
judicial corruption in Nigeria was unheard of, and probably thought of as
impossible, before now. Indeed, my major concern was that those arrested and
released so swiftly would have sufficient time and company of evil associates
who will present to them pages and options of scripts taken from their ignoble
book of mischief on how to fight back. They will also provide legal assistance
and deep purses to take the fight to President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.
It only took a few hours before one of the embattled Judges, Justice
Adeniyi Ademola dispatched a letter into the media space in which he
strenuously blamed the Attorney-General of the Federation [AGF] and Minister
for Justice, Abubakar Malami for his woes. According to the judge, “A DSS
official finally informed me that my arrest was based on these three
allegations; petition of Hon. Jenkins Duvie dated 4th of April 2016 to the
National Judicial Council (NJC); granting bail to Col. Sambo Dasuki and the
unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu; and using my office to secure my wife's
appointment as the head of civil service, through Senator Bola Tinubu.”
Ademola said he saw his arrest as revenge from Abubakar Malami, whose
arrest and detention he ordered over a professional misconduct while he was
judge in Kano between 2004 and 2008. Indeed, story for the gods!
In his hurry to concoct an alibi, Justice Ademola conveniently forgot
to expatiate on the petitions he acknowledged were written against him but rather
dwelled copiously but disingenuously on the red herring he created around the
AGF. The reasons for dragging in the national leader of the APC, Alhaji Ahmed
Bola Tinubu and AGF Malami are many. He wanted the sympathy of BAT and his
followers and in Malami, Justice Ademola found a fitting personality right in
the heart of the Buhari government who he can use to blackmail the President
and his government. Is there a better way for corruption to fight back than
this?
Just as Nigerians were conditioning themselves to the emerging
melodrama by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, another embattled judge of the Supreme
Court, Justice John Inyang Okoro and his collaborators in Akwa Ibom and Rivers
State were concluding a different episode in what has now become the grand epic
movie in which the central theme is the get-him-at-all-cost quest for Rt. Hon.
Chibuike Rotimi Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation in the Buhari
government.
In a self-deprecating letter to the CJN and widely circulated in the
media, Justice John Okoro rambled, huffed and puffed about how Amaechi
approached him to pervert justice in the 2015 governorship election matters of
Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia States. He claimed to have mentioned the matter to
the CJN at the time but never bothered to follow the prescription of the law in
such a circumstance which required him to put it in black and white to his boss
and also report to security agencies. In his hurry to manufacture lies, a
supposed experienced Supreme Court judge conveniently forgot the provisions of
the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission Act
2000; 23(1) which says: “Any public officer to whom any gratification is given,
promised, or offered, in contravention of any provision of this Act, shall
report such gift, promised or offer together with the name, if known, of the
person who gave, promised or offered such gratification to him to the nearest
officer of the commission or police officer.”
Not a few Nigerians have raised questions about the highly mendacious
and self-incriminating letter by Justice John Okoro. What will be the basis for
Amaechi to approach Justice Okoro to pervert justice in the Akwa Ibom
governorship matter when he could not have been enlisted on the panel as an
indigene of Akwa Ibom State? What really is the nexus between his wild
allegations and what the DSS has accused him of? As men of the law, why is it
that neither Justice Okoro nor the CJN followed the provisions of the law if an
attempt was made to bribe a Supreme Court judge?
Following on the heels of Justice John Inyang Okoro's spurious
allegations, came yet another letter by another Supreme Court judge, Justice
Nwali Sylvester Ungwuta. Again, Ungwuta took refuge under the name of Rt. Hon.
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who he shamelessly concocted white lies against,
claiming the Minister attempted to bribe him to pervert justice in electoral
matters. Ungwuta also dragged in Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu to further confer the toga
of credibility on the plot by the shamed judges to square up with the PMB
government and possibly halt the war against corruption as it relates to the
judiciary.
Today, what has become very apparent is that there were several well
organised rehearsals by these embattled and alleged bad eggs in the judiciary
to hit back at the very heart beat of the Buhari administration as corruption
fights back.
We know that the idea is that the easiest way to hit at the very heart
of a strongman is to harm his favourite offspring. Same persons who are hell
bent on humiliating the PMB government continue to explore from their mischief
box. They started with avenging the defeat of their man, which seems to be
failing. Now, they have turned on Amaechi and that will also fail.
It is also worthy of note that all those who have been rueing their
loss of the 2015 Presidential election have quickly regrouped to exact their
pound of flesh from the very undisputed game changer and driver of the PMB
victory which ensured the effective consignment of their Man Friday, the Otuoke
man, to the backwaters of history. And that man is Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi CON.
The flurry of activities in Government House Port Harcourt has since
heightened. We have heard plots to air CCTV footages. But all those insidious
plans cannot be more than the previous plots. They failed then, they will fail
now. Those evil iron-cast conspiracies will all lie in ruins. It is a matter of
time. For them, Amaechi has become the proverbial alligator pepper that must be
ever present in every brew by traditional medicine men.
There is no reason for the pretentious posture of the Police boss over the recent threats by the embattled governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike who has not only called for the annihilation of INEC staff who may engage in what he now considers as electoral fraud, but has insidiously incited his supporters to go after those who are purportedly behind his current travails.
The victory recorded by the APC in Rivers State in the election matters may become their albatross if the Inspector General of Police continues to play hanky panky on the very issue of security in the state which has risen astronomically lately.
The mere reading of his body language even without hearing his blurting voice and vituperations, these gang of blind bats and bloodied bandits turned politicians are on the loose to take down all the known and perceived opponents of Wike and his failed PDP. What is their grouse with the APC, one may ask? Is politics no longer a game of permanent interests devoid of permanent enemies? No, it is far from being a game. It is as serious as the business of who becomes the FIFA President. It is now a do or die affair.
What on earth would drive the so called ruling party in the state into a vanishing point? If elections had been conducted under a free and fair basis, there would not have been need for the avalanche of nullifications which has greeted the premature victory of the PDP candidates for all the elections in the state. The threat to kill for any perceived acts of killing is like passing a death sentence on those who once romanced the PDP when President Jonathan held sway.
The Inspector General of Police, unfortunately has refused to bulge while the war drums are being beaten in the once Rivers of Possibilities. It's either IGP Solomon Arase is compromised considering the way he was brought to power by the then PDP Federal Government or he cares less about the Niger Delta people who put their lives on the line that President Buhari may be elected in place of another Niger Delta son.
Arase has not hidden his sympathy for Wike who was the pointsman of Jonathan and his wife in the region nor has he hidden his disdain for the so called Change Agents here. Of course,
Rotimi Amaechi does not have the penchant for throwing money around like Wike who believes in buying any buyable!
Given the police's flair for 'egunje' or brown envelope, there is no doubt where the loyalty of the crime busters lie.
The escalation of crime in the state is an indictment of the state government. While more and more APC stalwarts are still being hounded by these dare devil, guns trotting assailants, the Police still claims to be on top of the situation. Not even the much publicised Rivers Black Monday organised by the APC to mourn the death of over 100 of their supporters has caused the IGP to shift his position concerning his alliance with the current occupant of the Brick House.
Today, we hear from the horse's mouth that some members of the war cabinet of Wike, according to Ibiba Walter, have assigned roles of marksmen to either gun down or kidnap strong APC stalwarts in the state. The time frame given for the deadly operation is from now till the judgment of the Supreme Court on the Governorship tussle. In the words of some of the hired assassins recently at the Casablanca area of GRA Port Harcourt, "we shall not go down alone through the Supreme Court ".
Those privileged to be in authority who move about with maximum security must not fold their hands and watch their supporters killed or maimed by this vampire in the state. Chikodi Dike was lucky to have escaped death yesterday though his police escort was killed just behind Port Harcourt Polo Club, who knows who's next. But I want to remind the sponsors of these heinous crimes that death knows no boundaries! You may kill by the sword, yet you die in your sleep! To be forewarned is to be forearmed!
PRESS BRIEFING BY FORMER MEMBERS OF THE RIVERS STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL UNDER THE RT. HON CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI, CON, FORMER GOVERNOR, RIVERS STATE HELD AT THE ERNEST IKOLI PRESS CENTRE, MOSCOW ROAD, PORT HARCOURT ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015
PROTOCOLS,
Good afternoon gentlemen of the press. We welcome you to this press briefing by the former members of the Rivers State Executive Council under the chairmanship of the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, CON; this press briefing has become imperative following the recent spate of attacks on the former governor and allegations of corruption against the regime.
As persons who served on the state executive council, and in keeping with the ethos of the Chibuike Amaechi administration to maintain” transparent and accountable stewardship,” we have decided to hold this press conference to set the records straight.
All of you as media practitioners in Rivers State are aware of the events leading up to and after the elections in Rivers state. You all are also aware of the controversy that trailed the setting up of the Justice George Omereji judicial commission of enquiry and our position as robustly espoused by the former Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms. Our position now as at then was based on the following:
1. It is illegal for a governor to set up a judicial commission of inquiry.
2. While inaugurating the commission Mr. Ezebunwon Nyesom Wike had charged the committee to amongst other things “investigate the illegal sales of the power plants.” This statement by itself was evidence enough that a position had been taken by the Rivers State Government.
3. The Chairman of the Commission itself had himself stated “ if it was before me and sitting as a judge of a serious biting - biting court, you would have seen what is going to happen to people that are corrupt. I would have ordered the arrest of those corrupt officials who decided not to follow procedure and lock them up and maintain it.” This comment long before all parties had appeared before him was another confirmation of our position that the Commission’s report was already pre determined.
4. Government is a continum and Government policy is as determined by the administration of the day. Decisions of the State Executive Council are implemented by Ministries, Departments and Agencies and all records are domiciled in the ministries. As former commissioners we had each submitted our hand over notes to the Secretary to State Government as well as our Permanent Secretaries and so every record required by the successor government are available with the MDA’s. Our attention would only be required for routine clarification where this may be necessary.
Regardless of this we wish to reiterate our position previously espoused on the matters raised by the commission:
THE MONO RAIL PROJECT
Ø The Rivers Monorail Project is a major transport infrastructure project undertaken by the Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi administration.
Ø The project is in line with the vision of the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration that there is a need to reposition Port Harcourt to become a major business destination in the South-South.
Ø Recognizing that Port Harcourt is the oil capital of the country. The aim of the Monorail Transportation system is to ease traffic on the major road corridor in the state and in doing that, galvanize business and jump start the local economy.
Ø The Rivers Monorail project is not a stand-alone project. For the project to be appreciated, it needs to be seen in conjunction with the complete developmental vision of the administration.eg the building of a new city; the Greater Port Harcourt Development Area, the on-going Transport Sector Reforms, the construction of the Mega Terminals. The aim of all these, is the repositioning of Port Harcourt.
Ø The Monorail project is a well-considered option after exhaustive analysis of all other options. For instance, the National Railway is comatose and also there is an extent to which you can expand the roads.
Ø The Decision to construct the Rivers Monorail Project was jointly adopted by the Rivers State Executive Council during the first tenue of Rotimi Amaechi when the present Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike was the Chief of Staff to the Governor at the time.
Ø When the decision to construct the Monorail was taken, there were no Due Process laws in existence in the state. But it should be noted that after the enactment of the Due process laws, The Monorail Project owner engineers; Arcus Gibb and officials of the Rives State Ministry of Transport were constantly briefing and keeping the Due process team up to date on all issues as they relate to the project. This fact can be backed up with several minutes of meeting between Due Process and officials of the Ministry of Transport/Arcus Gibb.
Ø It should also be highlighted that after the PPP (Public Private Partnership) partners; TSI Property and Investment Holdings Ltd pulled out of the project because of her inability to contribute her own 80% equity contribution (Due to the financial crash of 2008), The Former Deputy Governor Engr. Tele Ikuru headed an Executive Council committee to review and recommend if the Rivers State Government should continue with the project. The committee recommended that the Rivers State Government should continue with the construction of the Monorail Project with Arcus Gibb acting as the project consultants.
Ø The monorail project is even more significant now given the recent fall in the price of oil and the need for governments to create conducive environment for local business to thrive. There is no better way of helping local businesses thrive than putting in place a proper transport infrastructure network.
Ø As at the end of the tenure of Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, 2 stations has been completed; Azikiwe and UTC Stations. The Depot and Sharks Park stations were already 80% completed. The train has been mounted and tested. In fact, the first phase of the project (2.6 Km stretch) could be said to have been technically completed.
Ø It is infantile and the height of gross irresponsibility to request that the sum of N33Bn be returned to the Rivers State Government. It shows a complete lack of understanding of the rudiments of governance and infrastructural developments. Pertinent issues to be raised;
1. The N33Bn in question, is it the money that has been spent on the project?
2. Has the “so called” panel established any case of financial impropriety?
3. What is the Wike administration’s position on securing the assets of the project e.g. the trains that are just wasting away at the station?
It is important to compare this situation with the scenario in Lagos when British investors went on an inspection of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Project; Blue Line project (a public transport infrastructure project started by the former administration of Babatunde Fashola) and pledged the support of the UK private sector to the expansion of the project. That is what governance is all about. Continuity!
Ø As at the end of the tenure of Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, 2 stations has been completed; Azikiwe and UTC Stations. The Depot and Sharks Park stations were already 80% completed. The train has been mounted and tested. In fact, the first phase of the project (2.6 Km stretch) could be said to have been technically completed.
Ø It is infantile and the height of gross irresponsibility to request that the sum of N33Bn be returned to the Rivers State Government. It shows a complete lack of understanding of the rudiments of governance and infrastructural developments. Pertinent issues to be raised;
1. The N33Bn in question, is it the money that has been spent on the project?
2. Has the “so called” panel established any case of financial impropriety?
3. What is the Wike administration’s position on securing the assets of the project e.g. the trains that are just wasting away at the station?
It is important to compare this situation with the scenario in Lagos when British investors went on an inspection of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Project; Blue Line project (a public transport infrastructure project started by the former administration of Babatunde Fashola) and pledged the support of the UK private sector to the expansion of the project. That is what governance is all about. Continuity!
Ø The present construction is on the busiest road corridor in the state and is broken down into 2 different phases. Phase 1A: 2.6km stretch, UTC-Sharks Park, 3 Stations and 1 Depot. Single track, 1 Train in operation. The train will have 7 coaches and will be able to accommodate 172 passengers with access for the handicapped. The train will be operating at a speed of 70km/hr. and is expected to travel within end stations in 8 minutes. Passengers will be expecting a train to stop at a station every 8 minutes.
Ø Electric Supply for the system will be coming from the Trans Amadi Sub-Station with back-up generators installed.
Ø Phase 1B: 3.9km stretch UTC-Waterlines. 3 proposed stations; Waterlines, Garrison and Isaac Boro, 6 trains.
Ø Our construction strategy is in phases (All over the world the rail system is done in phases. In India it took 22 years to complete 1 line. Even in Dubai, it took them 8 years to complete their Monorail and it was done in phases).We started construction in February 2010. We have a commitment to make Phase 1A operational by April 2015. We are also deploying manpower and machinery for Phase 1B.
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SCHEME
· This scheme was intended to facilitate the flow of credit to farmers to enable them expand and consolidate their holdings.
· Sums were set aside for disbursement to farmers in the various LGAs of the State by way of grant.
· The programme concentrated on cropping, fishing, livestock, processing, storage, forestry, marketing etc.
· A total no of 380 mother cooperatives were engaged after scaling through the eligibility criteria
· There were a total no of 2553 subgroups engaged by the mother cooperatives.
· A total of N4bn was earmarked for the implementation this programme and the completion of the fish farm projects.
· So far, about N3.1bn has been disbursed from the funds living behind about 900million with Rivers State Ministry of agric account for the completion of the projects.
Ø Electric Supply for the system will be coming from the Trans Amadi Sub-Station with back-up generators installed.
Ø Phase 1B: 3.9km stretch UTC-Waterlines. 3 proposed stations; Waterlines, Garrison and Isaac Boro, 6 trains.
Ø Our construction strategy is in phases (All over the world the rail system is done in phases. In India it took 22 years to complete 1 line. Even in Dubai, it took them 8 years to complete their Monorail and it was done in phases).We started construction in February 2010. We have a commitment to make Phase 1A operational by April 2015. We are also deploying manpower and machinery for Phase 1B.
AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SCHEME
· This scheme was intended to facilitate the flow of credit to farmers to enable them expand and consolidate their holdings.
· Sums were set aside for disbursement to farmers in the various LGAs of the State by way of grant.
· The programme concentrated on cropping, fishing, livestock, processing, storage, forestry, marketing etc.
· A total no of 380 mother cooperatives were engaged after scaling through the eligibility criteria
· There were a total no of 2553 subgroups engaged by the mother cooperatives.
· A total of N4bn was earmarked for the implementation this programme and the completion of the fish farm projects.
· So far, about N3.1bn has been disbursed from the funds living behind about 900million with Rivers State Ministry of agric account for the completion of the projects.
SALE OF POWER PLANTS
ALLEGED FRAUDULENT SALE OF RIVERS STATE POWER ASSETS AND CONVERSION OF PROCEEDS AMOUNTING TO SIXTY BILLION FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MILLION (N60,480,000,000.00) NAIRA ONLY
ALLEGED FRAUDULENT SALE OF RIVERS STATE POWER ASSETS AND CONVERSION OF PROCEEDS AMOUNTING TO SIXTY BILLION FOUR HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MILLION (N60,480,000,000.00) NAIRA ONLY
These allegations are not true as can be discerned from the following:
i.The Rivers State Executive council after extensive deliberations on 15th and 16th August 2012 (See attached extract from the Minutes of the Executive Council meeting) took a decision to sell seventy percent (70%) of its equity in the power assets of the State. The sale of this equity was particularly informed by the following considerations:
1. The Federal government had commenced a privatization process to unbundle the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to drive efficiency.
2. PHCN was not paying River State Government for electricity contributed to the national grid
3. The state was spending heavily on purchase of gas from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to fuel the plants. At this time the State was indebted to Shell and Agip to the tune of Seven Billion (N7,000,000,000.00) Naira.
4. The State was spending over one billion Naira annually on maintenance of the plants without commensurate returns in the form of electricity supplies
5. Need to engender efficiency in the management of the power assets so that its benefits can be felt by the generality of the people of Rivers State.
6. The State Government does not have the requisite manpower to manage the facilities.
7. Need to augment revenue in the face of dwindling federal allocation to the State.
i.The Rivers State Executive council after extensive deliberations on 15th and 16th August 2012 (See attached extract from the Minutes of the Executive Council meeting) took a decision to sell seventy percent (70%) of its equity in the power assets of the State. The sale of this equity was particularly informed by the following considerations:
1. The Federal government had commenced a privatization process to unbundle the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to drive efficiency.
2. PHCN was not paying River State Government for electricity contributed to the national grid
3. The state was spending heavily on purchase of gas from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to fuel the plants. At this time the State was indebted to Shell and Agip to the tune of Seven Billion (N7,000,000,000.00) Naira.
4. The State was spending over one billion Naira annually on maintenance of the plants without commensurate returns in the form of electricity supplies
5. Need to engender efficiency in the management of the power assets so that its benefits can be felt by the generality of the people of Rivers State.
6. The State Government does not have the requisite manpower to manage the facilities.
7. Need to augment revenue in the face of dwindling federal allocation to the State.
Similar considerations informed the lease/concession of entities like RISONPALM which before then had shut down for over ten years, Supabod stores (Now SPAR) which was shut down since the 1980s and Olympia Hotel (Radisson Blu Olympia) which had ceased to function since 1993 and was being used as a Police Barracks. These entities were leased and not sold as being mischievously peddled by some individual in Rivers State. At the end of the lease period, these revived assets will revert to the State Government.
ii.Proceeds from the sale of the assets was properly recognized in the 2014 Appropriation Law of Rivers State as one of the sources of revenue to fund the 2014 budget. Please see Extract below:
ii.Proceeds from the sale of the assets was properly recognized in the 2014 Appropriation Law of Rivers State as one of the sources of revenue to fund the 2014 budget. Please see Extract below:
RevenueAmount in N
FAAC241,000,000,000.00
IGR92,000,000,000.00
Proceeds from sale of Assets33,000,000,000.00
Cash Bal B/F10,717,000,000.00
Bond/Loan100,000,000,000.00
World Bank/ADB loan6,984,000,000.00
Total485,524,000,000.00
iii. The Power assets were priced and sold at a premium at $800,000 per mega watts which is higher than the rate of $358,000 per megawatts used by the Federal Government in disposing its power assets at Afam. Whereas River State earned $302,000,000.00 for seventy percent of its power assets of 542 megawatts, the Federal Government received $260,000,000.00 for the 726 megawatts plant situated adjacent to the Rivers State facility.
iv.Payments for the assets were made in several tranches between 2012 and 2014
v.All Proceeds of the sale made in US Dollars were lodged in the Rivers State Power Assets Sale Account with Access Bank
vi.The USD proceeds were sold to willing buyers at a rate higher than the prevailing CBN rates, and the Naira equivalent lodged by the buyers into the Rivers State revenue Account at Zenith Bank.
vii.The companies that were erroneously portrayed as fronts for looting of the funds were actually those that bought the USD and made remittances of Naira equivalents into the given Account with Zenith Bank. Please see details below
viii.Once the funds were received into RVSG account they were used alongside others from other revenue sources to finance various Government projects and activities (Please see attached Statement of Account for the relevant period).
UNLAWFUL PAYMENT TO AND CRIMINAL CONVERSION OF N4,633,440,000.00 BY CLINORIV SPECIALIST HOSPITAL
The facts of this transaction are stated below:
i. The Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Hospital was conceived by former Governor Amaechi to address the huge tertiary health care deficit in Rivers State and indeed the country and help reduce the high cost of referrals to hospitals overseas.
ii. River State government in January 2008 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clinotech Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical Inc. Canada for the building and operation of a mega specialist hospital and leisure facility in Port Harcourt on a Public Private Partnership basis (PPP) with equity participation of Government 40% and Clinotech 60%.
iii. Clinotech conducted feasilbility studies, completed architectural designs of the hospital and moved to the given site at the old UPTH using its own funds, before a decision was taken by RVSG to relocate the hospital to Greater Port Harcourt as one of the anchor projects for the new city.
iiii. In May 2008 the Rivers State Government released the sum of Four Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira ($39.2m) representing its 40% equity. However Clinotech that was supposed to make 60% equity contribution to the project was unable to meet its own obligation citing issues associated with the global financial meltdown..
v. The River State Executive Council therefore suspended the joint venture and subsequently awarded it as a turnkey contract to Clinotech with direct funding (100%) by the Government
vi. On 5th March 2010, Rt. Hon. RC Amaechi reported Dr. Harrison Ofiyai, CEO of Clinotech to the then Rivers State Commissioner of Police alleging a case of breach of contract and fraudulent diversion of funds. The Police conducted its investigation into the matter and issued a report on 24th March 2010. (See attached copy of report).
vii. The Former Governor during a routine inspection of the site of the hospital on 5th May 2010 ordered the immediate suspension and evacuation of Clinotech from the hospital construction site, on the believe that the work done was not commensurate with the amount of money released for the project by the Rivers State Government
viii. Subsequently, on 12th December 2010, the former Governor approved the setting up of a Technical Committee to determine the way forward for the project. The Committee upon completion of its work submitted a report which valued the job done by Clinotech (including material at site) at the sum of Three Billion Nine Hundred Million Naira (N3,900,000,000.00) only
ix. The final financial position between the parties (RVSG and Clinotech) on the project has been determined as reflected in the ‘Agreement for the resolution of the failed 1000-Bed (Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte) mega specialist hospital contract’, executed by the parties on 19th March 2014 (copy attached).
x. The Rivers state Government executed a Memo of Agreement (MOA) on 9th May 2014 with VMS-WILLEMEN consortium for the completion of the JAKWH on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
xi. It is clear from the foregoing that RT. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, did not maintain ‘a studied silence for seven years without making any efforts’, but is also not involved in any unlawful enrichment and criminal conspiracy to convert public funds to private use.
ii. River State government in January 2008 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clinotech Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical Inc. Canada for the building and operation of a mega specialist hospital and leisure facility in Port Harcourt on a Public Private Partnership basis (PPP) with equity participation of Government 40% and Clinotech 60%.
iii. Clinotech conducted feasilbility studies, completed architectural designs of the hospital and moved to the given site at the old UPTH using its own funds, before a decision was taken by RVSG to relocate the hospital to Greater Port Harcourt as one of the anchor projects for the new city.
iiii. In May 2008 the Rivers State Government released the sum of Four Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira ($39.2m) representing its 40% equity. However Clinotech that was supposed to make 60% equity contribution to the project was unable to meet its own obligation citing issues associated with the global financial meltdown..
v. The River State Executive Council therefore suspended the joint venture and subsequently awarded it as a turnkey contract to Clinotech with direct funding (100%) by the Government
vi. On 5th March 2010, Rt. Hon. RC Amaechi reported Dr. Harrison Ofiyai, CEO of Clinotech to the then Rivers State Commissioner of Police alleging a case of breach of contract and fraudulent diversion of funds. The Police conducted its investigation into the matter and issued a report on 24th March 2010. (See attached copy of report).
vii. The Former Governor during a routine inspection of the site of the hospital on 5th May 2010 ordered the immediate suspension and evacuation of Clinotech from the hospital construction site, on the believe that the work done was not commensurate with the amount of money released for the project by the Rivers State Government
viii. Subsequently, on 12th December 2010, the former Governor approved the setting up of a Technical Committee to determine the way forward for the project. The Committee upon completion of its work submitted a report which valued the job done by Clinotech (including material at site) at the sum of Three Billion Nine Hundred Million Naira (N3,900,000,000.00) only
ix. The final financial position between the parties (RVSG and Clinotech) on the project has been determined as reflected in the ‘Agreement for the resolution of the failed 1000-Bed (Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte) mega specialist hospital contract’, executed by the parties on 19th March 2014 (copy attached).
x. The Rivers state Government executed a Memo of Agreement (MOA) on 9th May 2014 with VMS-WILLEMEN consortium for the completion of the JAKWH on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
xi. It is clear from the foregoing that RT. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, did not maintain ‘a studied silence for seven years without making any efforts’, but is also not involved in any unlawful enrichment and criminal conspiracy to convert public funds to private use.
Disappearance of Fifty-Three Billion Naira (N53, 000, 000, 000.00) from the Rivers State Reserve Fund Between 2014 and May 2015 Under Amaechi’s Watch
Neither the sum of Fifty-Three Billion Naira (N53, 000, 000,000.00) nor any amount for that matter “disappeared” from the Rivers State Reserve Fund between 2014 and May 2015 Under Amaechi’s Watch.
The first point to be made here is that the Administration of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi believed in saving for the rainy day. It is a mark of prudence that the Administration committed to a mandatory saving early in its life. However, unfortunate developments in the management of our national resources and the down turn in the economy accelerated the rainy day.
The second point, which is more of clarification and information relates to the amounts in question. At the inauguration of the Justice Omereji Commission, the claim was that the sum of Ninety-Six Billion (N96, 000, 000, 000.00) was withdrawn from the Fund by the Administration of Governor Amaechi.
The third point is that every withdrawal from the Fund complied with the extant controls governing the Fund. Following severe shortfalls in expected revenues, the Administration made three (3) withdrawals in 2014. Each withdrawal was in line with the governing law and the proceeds were applied for the purposes of government.
The total savings by the State over the life of the Administration was under Thirty-Nine Billion Naira (N38, 530,000,000.00) only. Earnings from the investment during the period were over Sixteen Billion Naira (N16, 000,000,000.00). The Fund had a Net Asset Value of over One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira (N1, 200, 000, 000.00) only at the end of the Administration in May 2015.
CONCLUSION
Gentlemen of the press, we have gone to this extent because of the belief of the Amaechi admisteration that the people come first and have a right to know. These details we have put before you were all available to the Rivers state Government and the Omeriji panel respectively. We have again put it before you and the public to enable you judge for yourselves. We are confident of our stewardship as former members oft he Executive Council and we are certain that posterity would deal us a fair blow. We thank you for coming. God bless you
Gentlemen of the press, we have gone to this extent because of the belief of the Amaechi admisteration that the people come first and have a right to know. These details we have put before you were all available to the Rivers state Government and the Omeriji panel respectively. We have again put it before you and the public to enable you judge for yourselves. We are confident of our stewardship as former members oft he Executive Council and we are certain that posterity would deal us a fair blow. We thank you for coming. God bless you