…Why His Gov./Vice Presidential Re-election Bid Remains His Last Battle
Dom Zimepagi
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, four serving officials of Rivers State Government under Governor Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike will be whisked away to the premises of Economic and Financial Crime Commission-EFCC, Port Harcourt zonal office or Abuja headquarters for formal interrogation on what they know about certain financial withdrawals amounting to several billions of naira N117B from June 2015 to 2017.
www.towncrier.ng had earlier revealed in its report that the Rivers State Government was being investigated prior to the death of the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Honourable Emma Aguma on 11th of August, 2018.
It was on the basis of the EFCC investigation that the late Attorney General wrote letter to EFCC investigation reminding it of the existing Court Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining EFCC from investigating the financial records of the Rivers State Government which was obtained by ex-Governor Dr. Peter Odili in 2017.
But in 2018, Governor Wike who is enjoying his constitutional right of immunity from criminal prosecution may after all face criminal prosecution at the expiration of his 4-years administration as executive Governor of Rivers State come May 29, 2019 should he lose his re-election bid as Governor or that of Vice Presidential candidate under Peoples Democratic Party-PDP come February, 2019.
Today the secretary to Rivers State Government-Kenneth Kobani, Accountant General of Rivers State, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Fred Kpakol, and other targeted Rivers State government officials were to be invited for interview by investigative officers of EFCC over what they know about the withdrawals of One Hundred and Seventeen Billion Naira-N117B. The said colossal amount of money was said to have been withdrawn differently without being backed up with being attached with purposes for which service they will be put into use. This is said to be a matter of “Gross Violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011.”
Those in the know revealed to www.towncrier.ng that Zenith Bank Plc was the bank which aided Governor Wike in making over 50-withdrawals of ten million naira-N10m starting from June 8, 2015 barely 8-days after he was sworn in into office as executive Governor of Rivers State. In that order about 45 Zenith Bank cheques all totaling N450m were cashed over the counter in cash.
As if that was not enough on the following day, being 9th of June, 2015 about 50 Zenith Bank Cheques amounting to Five Hundred Million Naira-N500m were withdrawn cash over the counter while the Governor in his maiden speech to Rivers State people accused his predecessor in office, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of having emptied the treasury/vault of Rivers State.
The Zenith Bank Plc Group Managing Director Mr. Peter Amangbo was invited by EFCC to explain how the sum of Five Billion and two hundred million naira-N5.2B was taken as charges by Zenith Bank Plc in the controversial transactions of total sum of N117B.
The Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Peter Amangbo was later released on administrative bail by EFCC as he is helping the anti-graft Agency to unravel how all the withdrawn of cash over the counter by his Bank officials of Rivers State Government wherein 50 cheques of N10m each totaling N500m were withdrawn in day on 9th of June, 2015. The Zenith Bank Group Managing Director during his EFCC ordeal admitted that all the transactions were in cash as his bank benefitted with the sum of N5.2B as bank charges.
The anti-graft agency, it has reported queried the bank over its role in violating the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as it relates to special surveillance on certain transactions and limitations to make or accept cash payment, thus may be charged to court for “Lack of Suspicious Transaction Report -(STR)” usually issued by Banks to the anti-graft agencies.
But Head Corporate Communication of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Victor Adoji in a Press Release said “The Economic and Financial Crime Commission-EFCC recently invited our Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Amangbo regarding our business relationship with Rivers State Government.
The invitation relates to ongoing issue between the Rivers State Government and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission-EFCC regarding operations of the State Government Accounts with various Banks of which Zenith Bank Plc is one.
“At the meeting, the EFCC requested information on how the Rivers State Government’s accounts with Zenith Bank Plc is being operated in terms of the utilization of funds over a period of time. As a responsible corporate citizen, the bank honoured the invitation during which our GMD/CEO clarified the areas of concerns with the commission.”
www.towncrier.ng gathered that earlier before now, EFCC on 9th October, 2018 arraigned Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike then as Chief of Staff to the then Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at an Abuja High Court which was presided over by Justice Adekukola Banjoka on seven count charges of alleged stealing, abuse of public office embezzlement and laundering state fund to the tune of N7.4B also withdrawn from Zenith Bank Plc.
And in 2009, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike was charged along with some Rivers State Government officials over fraud amounting to N5B while he was Chief of Staff. Although, he was not diligently prosecuted because there is an existing judgment which had barred EFCC from investigating Rivers State Government and EFCC filed for leave to appeal the judgment at the court of Appeal. Until this judgment is vacated or set aside it will be a herculean task to bring the Rivers State Governor to book over his accumulated criminal charges in financial impropriety as alleged by EFCC.
In view of when he completes his tenure of office come May 29, 2019, at that point when his immunity from criminal prosecution must have expired, www.towncrier.ng brings to you how EFCC will prosecute Governor Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike in 2019.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission Act, Article (20)(1)(a)(b) and (c) states that “A person convicted of an offence under this Act shall forfeit to the Federal Government (a) all the assets and properties which may or are subject of an interim Order of the Count after an attachment by the commission as specified in section 26 of this Act.
(b) Any asset or property confiscated or derived from any proceeds the person obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of such offence not already disclosed in the Assets Declaration Form specified in Form A of the schedule to this Act or not falling under paragraph (a) of this sub-section. (c) Any of the person’s property or instrumentalities used in any manner to commit or to facilitate the commission of such offence not already disclosed in the Declaration of Assets Form or not falling under paragraph (a) of this subsection.
It then meant, EFCC in our investigation revealed “As you are aware the Governor currently enjoys immunity but I can assure you that we have a watertight case against him based on our investigations and are ready to do the needful when his immunity expires.”
So, Governor Wike’s Rumukpakani Obio/Akpor Local Government Area country home has an additional acquisition of a multi-billion naira Mini-Sports complex opposite his back gate at Ekenna Street which he acquired at the cost of N800m and Sure Foundation School property at N450m.