Society Gists

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State, has alleged that Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of the state and APC presidential hopeful, used Tonye Cole, founder of Sahara Energy Group, to divert $50 million belonging to the state government.

Cole is the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Rivers ahead of the 2023 election.

The governor accused the duo of diverting the sum from Rivers State Government through a sham contract.

Wike who spoke in a live broadcast on Friday after the Supreme Court dismissed Amaechi suit to stop his probe over alleged N96bn fraud, said whether or not he goes ahead with the probe would depend on the leaders of the state.

Mr Wike had set up a panel to probe Mr Amaechi’s dealings after he became Governor and the Supreme Court case was an attempt by Mr Amaechi to set aside the recommendations of the panel.

“If you see that report, as a Rivers man, you’ll cry,” Mr Wike, who is also running for President on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, said on Friday.

“We are not being vindictive, but we have been vindicated,” Mr Wike, Chief of Staff to Amaechi when the latter was Governor said.

“So now the leaders of the state will decide what next step to take; it’s not for only me. Yes, I’m a Governor, but I can’t do it alone. If the leaders of the state says, yes we must prosecute them, I have no choice; but if the leaders say otherwise, I have no choice.”

“One of it was a diversion of $50 million from Rivers State Government to Sahara Energy,” Mr Wike said.

“And the issue became, what did Sahara Energy do for us that we are paying $50 million? Where is the agreement to show we borrowed money from them? Nothing.”

“You said Sahara Energy bought our gas turbines. Why are we paying them $50 million? Did we borrow money from them? Where is the agreement?” he said.