The All Progressives Congress, APC presidential aspirant and former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has lost his legal battle seeking to stop his probe in alleged N96B fraud and sale of valued assets belonging to Rivers State.
A fine of one million Naira was also slammed against Amaechi.
A commission of inquiry was inaugurated by Governor Nyesom Wike in 2015, headed by Justice George Omekeji to look into the lawful or otherwise of the alleged sales of valuable assets of the state.
The listed valuable assets are Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel and the award of contract for the execution Mono-rail Project.
The then former governor was summoned before the panel but he declined, instead he approached the Federal High Court to challenge the power of the enquiry, but the suit was dismissed and upheld by the Rivers State Court of Appeal for want of substance and merit.
Ameachi proceeded to the Supreme Court, but in a judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, held that the suit lacked merit and ordered Amaechi to go and face the Commission of Inquiry, set up by the Rivers State Government, to investigate his 8-year tenure as governor of the state.
An order of the court sought to prohibit Governor Nyesom Wike from investigating his 8-year tenure as the executive governor of the state was also dismissed.
The implication of this is that Ameachi will be made to appear before the Commission of Inquiry to clear the air, on how the sum of ninety-six billion Naira was said to have been withdrawn from the treasury of the state government.
If found guilty, he will be banned from taking political office for ten years.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
