Supreme Court dismisses Amaechi’s appeal to stop N96bn fraud probe

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi seeking to stop his probe over an alleged N96 billion fraud while he was governor of Rivers State.

In a lead judgment prepared by Justice Emmanuel Augie but read by Justice Adamu Jairo, the apex court dismissed the appeal of Mr Ameachi on grounds that the issue of not been given fair hearing does not arise as no one is on trial.

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike set up a panel of enquiry into the alleged fraud.

Mr Amaechi had prayed the apex court to prohibit Governor Nyesom Wike from investigating his 8-year tenure as executive governor of the state.

The former governor predicated his opposition to probe on the ground that it was aimed at witch-hunting him, to embarrass him, humiliate him and to as well disgrace him in view of his political differences with his successor.

Governor Wike who constituted a 7-man through his counsel and insisted that the the Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice George Omekeji was to look into how N96 billion was allegedly withdrawn from the Treasury of the state government and how it was expended.

The court also ordered Mister Amaechi to pay the sum of One million Naira Governor Wike as cost.