The Supreme Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi seeking to stop his probe over an alleged N96 billion fraud when he was governor of Rivers State. The apex court dismissed the appeal on the grounds that the issue of not being given a fair hearing does not arise as no one is on trial.
Amaechi had prayed the apex court to prohibit the incumbent governor of the state, Mr Nyesom Wike from investigating his eight-year tenure as the executive governor of the state.
The former governor predicated his opposition to a probe on his claim that it was aimed at witch-hunting him, embarrassing him and humiliating him because of his political differences with his successor.
In a judgement prepared by Justice Emmanuel Augie, the apex court dismissed Amaechi’s appeal and ordered him to pay the sum of N1m (One million Naira) to Governor Wike.
Governor Wike had constituted a seven-man Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice George Omereji to look into how N96b was allegedly withdrawn from the treasury of the state government and how it was expended.
With the final decision of the apex court, Amaechi will be made to appear before the Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice George Omereji to give account of how the money was withdrawn and spent.
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