$43m Haul: Rivers Gov’t Confirms Amaechi Owns Money, Penthouse

Wike, who made the claim while addressing journalists at the Government House, said that the $43 million is part of Amaechi’s share of proceeds made from the sale of gas turbines under the latter’s administration.

The governor has consequently handed the Federal Government a 7-day ultimatum to cede the said sum to the Rivers State Government.

“The money in question belongs to the former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. We want to confirm that the house in Ikoyi also belongs to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,” Wike said.

“If you recollect in 2015, we said that gas turbines built by former Governor Peter Odili were sold to Sahara Energy, business partners of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at $319 million.

“That money was used to sponsor the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2015 general election. From the date of sale of the gas turbines to May 29, 2015, the money depleted from $319 million to $204,000. What was stashed at the Ikoyi residence was part of that fund.

“We have facts to prove that the said money belongs to the Rivers State Government. The Federal Government must return our money.”

“As I speak to you, the federal government is so embarrassed that this has happened. All the stories that the money belongs to the NIA are fake”.

“We are giving them seven days to return our money. Otherwise, we would take legal action to recover our money. $43 million will help us complete several projects,” the governor said.

– Amaechi Refutes Wike’s Claim

Amaechi in his reaction however refuted the allegation, saying there is no proof to back the claims.

“I don’t know who owns the money or the building. This Wike is a child. He just talks without any evidence. All he has been doing in the last two years is repairing roads. He can’t even construct roads.

“Journalist should try and find out who the owner of the Ikoyi building is from the Lagos State Government, before we start talking about the owner of the money. The building must have been registered. The documents must be in somebody’s name.

“I know Wike very well. He worked with me and stole so much when he was in govern- ment. He also stole when he was working for Jonathan. All his previous attempts to rubbish me failed. He will also fail in this one. At the Appeal Court, he could not provide documents to nail me over his shabby panel of inquiry. He will fail again,” said Amaechi.

THE WHISTLER recalls, however, that former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, similarly alleged on Friday that the said Ikoyi cash haul belongs to Rotimi Amaechi.