The Commission of Inquiry set up by Rivers State Governor, NYESOM WIKE to investigate the financial activities of his predecessor, ROTIMI AMAECHI has commenced sitting in Port Harcourt.

The Commission of Inquiry set up by Rivers State Governor, NYESOM WIKE to investigate the financial activities of his predecessor, ROTIMI AMAECHI has commenced sitting in Port Harcourt. In his opening remarks; the Chairman of the panel, Justice GEORGE OMEREJI assured that the take before his team is not to witch-hunt any individual. Justice OMEREJI said the commission will give room for fair hearing to all parties; adding that every invited person has the liberty to use the services of a legal representative. On the terms of reference of the commission; Justice OMEREJI said it would cover the sale of assets belonging to the Rivers State Government. Correspondent VICTOR EZEAMA reports that the former Commissioner for Agriculture, EMMA CHINDA who was invited to offer explanations over a four-billion naira agricultural loan failed to appear before the panel. 

However; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, SOTONYE ATARI-OKOYE presented himself for cross-examined by members of probe panel. Former Governor of Rivers State, ROTIMI AMAECHI has defended his objection to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by his successor. In a statement released by his media office, AMAECHI emphasized that he was not afraid of a fair and decent investigation of his administration in as much as it was done within the ambit of the law.

However, AMAECHI accused WIKE of setting up the commission to indict him, adding that the governor had prejudged the matter because of his bias by insisting that the past administration was corrupt even before the investigation. The statement cited  the terms of reference of the commission as one of the indications of the purported bias. It noted that the panel has as one of its terms of references the probe of the sale of the state-owned Hotel Olympia which it emphasised was leased on the approval of the State Executive Council of the former governor. On the Chairman of the Commission, Justice GEORGE OMEREJI, AMAECHI said the judge has never disguised his animosity towards him and cannot be fair in the inquiry of his administration.