* Says there’s no justification to stop probe panel against him
The 2023 presidential bid of the former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has suffered a setback as the Supreme Court on Friday declined a suit seeking to stop the planned probe of Rivers State Government against Amaechi, following his alleged involvement in N96billion fraud.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has instituted a probe panel to investigate his predecessor in office, alleging that Amaechi committed the N96billion fraud during his tenure as the Rivers State Governor.
But the All progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant has approached the Rivers State High Court and the Court of Appeal, asking them to stop the planned probe by Wike.
Dismissing Amaechi’s suit on Friday, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgement by a five-man panel of Justices, held that there was no justification to stop the probe of the former minister of transportation.
Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC), Justice Adamu Jauro, who read the lead judgement on Friday, further held that Amaechi’s appeal lacked merit and consequently dismissed the application.
The apex court also ordered Amaechi to face the probe panel that was set up by the Rivers State Government to probe his eight -year tenure as governor of the state.
The Supreme Court also awarded N1million costs against Amaechi.
It is instructive to note that Amaechi’s suit at the Rivers State High Court and Court of Appeal had earlier been dismissed.
The development prompted the APC presidential hopeful to approach the Supreme Court to seek redress.
Amaechi is asking the apex court to stop the probe into the alleged N96 billion sale of assets belonging to Rivers State.
But Governor Wike had constituted a seven-man probe panel to probe Amaechi over the alleged sale of Rivers State assets and the propriety of selling valuable assets of the state.
Some of the listed valuable assets include Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel and the award of contract for the execution of the Monorail project.
