Wike Sues Police, Others …Over Attempts To Search Abuja House

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has sued the police over the alleged move to search his house in Abuja for huge cash sums, believed to be proceeds of crime, firearms and wrist watches.

Also joined as defendants in the suit filed before the Federal High Court, in Abuja, are the Inspector-General of Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The governor said he had it on good authority that the defendants had already or were making moves to obtain a search warrant to carry out the planned search on his home at Ortega Close, Hassan Usman Katsina Street, Asokoro Extension, Abuja.

According to him, the defendants were also making moves to search his other houses, including those in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

But he is contending in the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja through his lawyer, Mr. Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN), that such a search would violate his immunity as a sitting governor.

He wants the court to restrain the defendants from giving effect to the allegedly planned search of his homes.

His lawyer, Ogwemoh, claimed that such a search could not be conducted by the defendants without violating Section 308 of the Constitution, which conferred immunity on his client as a sitting governor.

He asked the court to determine “whether the defendants can by the combined effect of section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and sections 149 (1) and 150 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 apply for, obtain, issue or, in any manner or form, effectively execute a search warrant” at the residence of his client Wike’s “physical presence of the Plaintiff or his privy in the course of the execution of such search warrant.”

He wants the court to “restrain the defendants whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or privies from applying for, issuing, entering upon the residence of the plaintiff in Abuja or anywhere else in Nigeria by virtue of a search warrant or any court process whatsoever which shall compel or require the physical presence of the plaintiff who is currently the Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria in order to search the said residence of the plaintiff and to remove from such residence/premises any items whatsoever during the tenure of the plaintiff as Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria, in contravention of the plaintiff’s immunity as preserved by Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

The court is yet to fix a date to hear the suit.





The Tide.

Recovered $43M, £27,000, N23M: NIA moves to ‘officially’ reclaim Ikoyi cash

Indications emerged last night that the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, will officially apply to reclaim the $43 million, £27,000 and N23 million recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from a building on Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, according to sources.

The NIA had earlier laid claims to the money, amid counter-claims by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State that the money belonged to his state. This came on a day Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said looters of public funds were now burying money in cemeteries and in deep forests.

Mohammed, who stated this in a statement issued by his spokesman, Segun Adeyemi, yesterday, also said the whistle-blower policy had led to the recovery of looted funds in many currencies that might not have been discovered, describing it as an effective tool for fighting corruption in Nigeria.

The minister’s revelation came as Governor Wike asked Christians in Rivers State to pray aggressively for the state in its efforts to recover the N13 billion discovered in a building at Ikoyi, Lagos, by the EFCC, last Wednesday.

This is even as Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, yesterday asked President Buhari to address the nation on the real ownership of the N13bn.

According to the source, President Muhammadu Buhari was aware that the money was NIA’s and had even inspected some of its covert operations on which part of the money was spent.

NIA boss spoke with Magu On why the money was kept in a building in a residential area, the source said: “Such monies are kept in safe houses in residential areas so as not to arouse suspicion. It is the practice everywhere in the world.”

The source said NIA operatives avoided a shoot-out with EFCC operatives to avert embarrassing the government.It also confirmed that the Director-General of NIA had a conversation that lasted about one hour with acting EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu ,prior to the invasion of the house but was ignored.

Money not Rivers govt’s The source also dismissed claims by Governor Wike that the money was that of Rivers State government’s money.

On burying of looted funds in cemeteries and deep forest, Mohammed said the whistle-blower policy of the government had also shown the depth of support among Nigerians for the fight against corruption.

He, therefore, thanked Nigerians for the enthusiasm and commitment that they had shown in helping the government tackle the hydra-headed monster of graft through the useful leads they have been providing to appropriate government agencies.

He said: “Since we launched the whistle-blower policy, we have received immeasurable support from Nigerians. Yes, there is monetary reward for any information that leads to recovery of looted funds, but from what we have seen, most Nigerians who have come forward with useful leads were driven by patriotism rather than reward.

“Nigerians, fired by a fervid resolve to help banish corruption from their country, have daily inundated the offices of the appropriate government agencies with valuable information. We have been told how looters have resorted to burying stolen funds in their backyards, in deep forests and even in burial grounds.

“Thanks to whistle-blowers, it is now clear that a rapacious few have pillaged the nation’s wealth through a vicious orgy of corrupt practices.

‘’Thanks to the useful information provided by Nigerians, it is now obvious that more funds are in the possession of looters than are available to government at all levels to meets its obligations, including paying workers’ salaries, providing social amenities, upgrading infrastructure and ensuring the security of lives and property.

“As the looters continue to run helter-skelter, many of them are even abandoning their booty at unusual places, including airports. We want to assure Nigerians that we will not abandon this policy for whatever reason. Instead, we will continue to re-jig it to make it more effective as a tool for fighting corruption.”

Mohammed said the recovered looted funds were safe, adding that as soon as the necessary reconciliation process and litigation in some of the cases were concluded, the government will give a full account of the funds to Nigerians.

Meanwhile, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, who had at the weekend laid claim to ownership of the N13 billion found in a building at Ikoyi by the EFCC, yesterday asked Christians in the state to pray fervently to God to intercede for the state to recover the money.

Wike made the call during Easter Church Service at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom. He said the church has a responsibility to pray that God should touch the Federal Government to return the money to the coffers of Rivers State, since the money was the property of the state government.

He said: “We need the prayers of the Church , because there is nothing that prayers cannot do. Pray that God should touch the government of Nigeria, so that they will return the money to us. What we are interested in is for the money to come back to us.”

Governor Wike stated that contrary to the false propaganda being peddled by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, he had not declared war on the Federal Government, stressing that Rivers State government was simply requesting the return of funds belonging to the state.

“ I cannot declare war on the Federal Government. Anybody bringing in Buhari’s name should leave Buhari and face his own problems . The issue is who kept the money at the Ikoyi residence. The money was kept there by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

No amount of blackmail, no amount of distraction will stop us from getting our money. “ He noted that between 70 and 80 per cent of APC campaigns in 2015 were sponsored with funds sourced by Rivers State government under the leadership of Rotimi Amaechi.

He said the selective nature of the war on corruption in the country will not help in efforts to stamp out graft and develop Nigeria, wondering why anti-graft agencies often recoiled in the anti-corruption war when supporters of the government were involved.

Vicar of Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom, Venerable Israel Omosioni, prayed God to grant the request of Rivers people for the recovered funds to be returned to Rivers State government

He said with the execution of projects across the state by Governor Wike, additional funds would assist the governor achieve more for the people.

The church resolved to start the prayers, which would be sustained till the funds were returned. SERAP tasks Buhari Similarly, SERAP, yesterday asked President Buhari to address the nation on the real ownership of the N13bn recovered fund.

SERAP said the President needs to clarify the issue, following controversy that now surrounds the funds. SERAP in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, called on the President to also ensure legal backing for his government’s whistle-blower policy.

The group said: “Clearing the doubts surrounding the real identities of those behind the Ikoyi cash haul would demonstrate that the President values transparency over secrecy. “This will further encourage more people to blow the whistle on governmental corruption and enhance the public’s right to know.

“The government’s increasing reliance on whistle-blowers’ tips to fight corruption has to be backed by some level of transparency and accountability in the real identities of those claiming recovered cash. “Democracy abhors secrecy, and for Nigerians to be able to hold elected leaders accountable, they must have access to information such as on the real identities of those behind the Ikoyi cash haul.”

SERAP also said giving the whistle blowing policy a legal backing would ensure protection of the whistle-blowers “from any retaliation and attacks.”

“The policy of giving whistle-blowers some percentage of recovered loot would seem to be a game changer in the fight against corruption but this government now has to squarely address the significant risks that those who blow the whistle face by urgently working with the National Assembly to ensure the necessary legal backing that would ensure protection against reprisals and attacks.

“The government should ensure that the National Assembly expedites the process of passing the whistle-blower Bill, as ensuring that the bill is passed without further delay would recognise the necessity of whistle-blowers and the value they add to the anti-corruption fight by reporting otherwise unknown corruption-related information.

“It would also ensure that whistle-blowers are fully protected from any retaliation and attacks they may experience, and that the government fully appreciates the information they provide,” SERAP stated.

Amaechi slams Wike, says he knows nothing about seized N13bn

Minister of Transportation and immediate past governor of Rivers State Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has dismissed the false claims by his successor Nyesom Wike that the $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23,218, 000 recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from an Ikoyi apartment in Lagos belongs to him.

Wike, in a suspicious, hurriedly arranged press conference on Friday night, told journalists that ‘the money in question belongs to the former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.’ Wike also insinuated that the ‘houses’ in Ikoyi belong to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi in a statement titled ‘$43MILLION TALE: AMAECHI SLAMS WIKE’ released by his Media Office on Saturday, Amaechi described the claims as malicious, frivolous and another failed attempt by Wike to divert attention from the mess he has created in Rivers State. According to the statement:

“Rivers State is perpetually in crisis, the state in a mess as Wike has made a total mess of governance in the State. That child who sits there as governor is confused, he doesn’t know what to do. Wike’s only solution is to attack Amaechi.”

“Since he became governor, Wike sleeps and wakes up everyday, with a sole, one-point agenda to attack and denigrate Rotimi Amaechi, no matter how ridiculous and silly he sounds. Everyday in Rivers State, there is one frivolous, false story of what Amaechi did or didn’t do. Same pattern, the same blatant lies with no proof, same old concocted stories of corruption allegations against Amaechi told with different flavours At this rate, if Wike is unable to perform his spousal duties, he will blame it on Amaechi.

Yes, that’s how despicably low he can go in his consuming fixation to throw mud at Amaechi.” “This latest outburst by Wike is typical of him.

We are aware that Wike first tried to float the fake news of Amaechi’s ownership of the recovered $43million and the Ikoyi house in the social media using his minions and lackeys, spending huge sums of Rivers money on the failed project.

His minions and lackeys were calling journalists, bloggers and media organizations to run the fake story with promises of almost irresistible mouth-watering compensation for using the fake story.

When that failed and the story didn’t gain traction that was when Wike decided to hurriedly hold the press conference Friday night, to rant and spew his outright lies, yet again without providing any proof of Amaechi’s ownership of both the property and the money.”

“For clarity and emphasis, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is not the owner of the $43million and the Ikoyi apartment in which the money was recovered from.

Amaechi has no business, link or connection to the money or property. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi does not know who owns the money or Ikoyi apartment.”

“Wike’s malicious allegation of corruption against Amaechi in the sale of the Gas Turbines is not new.

This false claim has been punctured repeatedly with facts and evidence of the transfer payments for the power plants into Rivers State government accounts by Sahara Energy.

The records of how the funds were spent and what it was spent on are in the records of the State government.

Amaechi has absolutely no business or any interest whatsoever in Sahara Energy.

The company was already a thriving business concern before Amaechi’s emergence as governor of Rivers State in 2007.

“We urge all right-thinking members of the public to completely disregard all the false, politically motivated no-proof claims by Nyesom Wike and his minions as it concerns Amaechi and the $43million and Ikoyi property.

“Yet again, we challenge Wike to charge Amaechi to court if he has any shred of evidence that the money belongs to Rivers State and was kept in the Ikoyi apartment by Amaechi.

But like his numerous frivolous accusations in the past, we know he won’t go to court. He has nothing to substantiate his blatant lies.

This Wike’s recent tale like his previous ones is a big sham, a disgraceful political drama, and a campaign of calumny to defame and destroy the sterling reputation of Rotimi Amaechi. This is now Wike’s sole life ambition.”

“Finally, we want Nigerians to note that Wike’s reckless, irresponsible and fictitious tirade against the President Buhari administration at his media briefing of Friday is a declaration of war against the Federal Government.

This has been his regular past time in recent times, making false allegations against the Federal government and threatening the President Buhari administration with fire and brimstone”, the statement concluded

Unclaimed $45m: We Need to Examine Wike’s Mental Status – Peterside

An All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside has questioned the mental status of Governor Nyesom Wike after claiming that the $45m found at a residence in Ikoyi, Lagos State belong to Rivers State Government. Dr Peterside, who stated this in a chat with newsmen at the Port Harcourt International Airport, rubbished insinuations by Governor Wike that the money found in Lagos were part of proceeds Rivers State Government realised from sale of gas turbines by the Amaechi administration.

Wike was also quoted to have claimed that the house in question belongs to Amaechi, who has since issued a statement denying ownership of the said building. He accused the Rivers State governor of turning governance to a circus show and lacking in sense of dignity by constantly being in the news for all the wrong reasons.

“Not too long ago, Wike apparently suffering from overdose of self delusion said he had awarded road projects in far away Benue State and had mobilised contractors to site. “The same Wike has also accused the Inspector General of Police of plotting to assassinate him through the new CP in Rivers State.

“We thought these were jokes taken too far. But the clownish governor has surprised himself with another tales by moonlight in trying to link his former boss and benefactor to the unclaimed money. “I think we need to check the sanity and mental status of Governor Wike.

Time and time again, he is bringing ridicule to the office he occupies and embarrassing the people of Rivers State who are known to be intelligent, responsible and decent in upbringing,” he stressed.

He explained that Amaechi had since denied owning the said house in Lagos and challenged the Rivers State Government to provide evidence to the contrary.

Peterside, who was commissioner for works under Amaechi, noted that the money realised from sale of gas turbines were paid into the account of Rivers state and the money used for projects.

“While Wike can never come near the record of Amaechi, the current governor is doing everything to reverse the unmatchable records of his predecessor.

“As at today, no one has seen copies of 2016 and 2017 budgets of Rivers State. Schools and health centres are shutting down with thousands of school age children out of school.

Rivers children on scholarship abroad have been withdrawn. The same governor has wasted Rivers money to host two failed conventions of a sinking PDP. His party chairman has accused him of using $6m to influence judicial officers. 

“Wike has the unenviable record of governing a state having the most state-linked killings in Rivers history. He rose to become the governor of Rivers State on the bloods of innocent people. 

“It is people like Wike who have made Nigerians to call to question the issue of immunity in the Constitution. He is taking immunity as shield to abuse the dignity of the office of Governor. 

“The governor can still retrace his steps and follow the path of dignity, decorum and respect the office he occupies for he holds it in trust on behalf of Rivers people,” he summed up.

$43m Found In Ikoyi By EFCC Belongs To Rivers – Gov Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has introduced a new twist to the $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23, 218,000 recovered on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from Osborne Towers, a luxury residential complex in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The governor told journalists at a briefing in Port Harcourt last night that the money belonged to the Rivers State Government.

Wike issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to return the money to his government or he would be forced to take legal measures to recover it.

Governor Wike declared that the money (N13 billion) found in the Ikoyi apartment belonged to the Rivers state government.

Governor Wike said that investigations by the Rivers State Government revealed that the money was proceeds from the sale of gas turbines by the immediate past Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

Addressing Government House press corps, at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday night, Governor Wike said: “The money in question belongs to the former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. We want to confirm that the house in Ikoyi also belongs to Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

“If you recollect in 2015, we said that gas turbines built by Former Governor Peter Odili were sold to Sahara Energy, business partners of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at $319 million.

”That money was used to sponsor the All Progressives Congress for the 2015 general elections. From the date of sale of the gas turbines to May 29, 2015, the money depleted from $319 million to $204,000. What was stashed at the Ikoyi residence was part of that fund”.

He said: “We have facts to prove that the said money belongs to the Rivers State Government. The Federal Government must return our money”.

Governor Wike said all the stories being peddled about the money belonging to the National Intelligence Agency are false and mere face saving measures by the embattled APC Federal Government.

He said: “As I speak to you, the Federal Government is so embarrassed that this has happened. All the stories that the money belongs to the NIA are fake”.

Governor Wike challenged the Federal Government to set up a panel of Inquiry, which will sit publicly to investigate the money, if it doubted the claim of the Rivers State Government.

He stated that the Rivers State Government needed the money to complete an array of projects, insisting that on no account would this criminal activity be swept under the carpet.

The governor said as long as the Federal Government continues to disturb the progress of Rivers State, so long will God throw the Federal Government into confusion.

“We are giving them seven days to return our money. Otherwise, we would take legal action to recover our money. $43million will help us complete several projects. We need that money for projects”, he said.

Former Governor Amaechi had flatly denied ownership of the said money saying that he does not own any apartment in Lagos, except Abuja.

In a statement issued by his media aide, David Iyofor, Amaechi said linking him to the money is spurious part of the campaign of hate against him for helping to bring down the 16 years of PDP administration in Nigeria.

Wike Receives 8,000 APC Decampees In PH, Thursday

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike will on Thursday officially receive over 8,000 deampees from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The chairman of the PDP in the State, Bro Felix Obuah announced this last Thursday when he received the APC decampees from Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of the State.

Welcoming the decampees into the PDP, Obuah assured them of good treatment and enjoyment of all rights and privileges in the party, without discrimination.

He said that already, some former Commissioners in the Rotimi Amaechi administration, Amaechi’s  personal aides and some APC leaders have indicated interest to decamp to the PDP and participate in the reception party on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

Obuah advised others in what he called the APC sinking boat to take advantage of the “specious and well-ventilated umbrella,” of the PDP to return to the party.

According to him, the PDP is ready to receive all who “genuinely repent of their sins against Rivers people and are ready to key into the development vision of good governance championed by Governor Nyesom Wike in the State”.

Meanwhile,  the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says its umbrella is large enough to accommodate everyone, including leaders of the APC, who decide to come back home to join the development-sensitive government under Gov. Nyesom Wike.

The PDP position follows an endless list of decampees from the APC to the PDP in Rivers State, the latest of which include the former Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s Chief Political Strategist, Chief Emeh Glory Emeh, who led other chieftains of the APC back to the PDP.

Chief Emeh’s move further opened the door for over 8000 decampees from the APC across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State, the latest coming from Asari-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas of the State, respectively.

Chief Emeh coordinated the daily defections of members and leaders of the APC to the PDP, some of which include the over 200 former Councilors of the APC, who were sacked by the Court, former SA to Amaechi on Internal Revenue, Nwankwo Nwankwo, former Commissioner for Culture under Rotimi Amaechi, Sunny Nwokekoro, APC Leader in ONELGA, Merino Okiraija, former Chairman of Emohua LGA, Bob Okala, and numerous non-indigenes residing in the various LGAs who left the APC, amongst others. These are clear indications that the APC structure in the State has collapsed.

The leader of the decampees from Akulga who was a former leader of the LGA Legislative Assembly, Hon. Orolosama Amachree, at the event, accused former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of coercing all ‘elected’ Chairmen and Councilors of the APC into instituting legal action against the government of Chief (Barr) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as a gimmick to make the State ungovernable.

According to Amachree whose scores of supporters turned the occasion into gyration amid singing and dancing, the violent activities of former Council Chairman, Ojukaye Flag Amachree had plunged the area into crisis which rendered his followers homeless, prompting them to flee to Abuja where they hoped to get succor from Amaechi who is Rivers APC Leader and Minister for Transportation.

“But when we met Amaechi, our leader in Abuja and told him of our predicament and requested his assistance to get accommodation, he bluntly told us “If you don’t have accommodation why did you have to come to me. Am I the landlord of Abuja”, said Amachree who is reputed for his grassroots followership.

Another ‘big fish’ caught by the PDP dragnet was the Vice Chairman in Degema LGA, Hon. Samuel Ikiroma who stormed the PDP Secretariat with hundreds of supporters.





The Tide

Nigerians already aware Buhari, APC have nothing to offer but lies – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Friday stated that it was now very clear to Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has nothing to offer in terms of developmental projects, apart from lying to Nigerians.

Wike also stated that the ruling party’s fight against corruption was targeted at intimidating political opponents, as the APC only prosecutes former PDP governors , while indicted former APC Governors are allowed to roam freely.

Wike was speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt when he granted audience to the Abuluoma Council of Chiefs, saying that there is no sincerity in the fight against corruption by the APC.

According to him, “Nigerians have seen that the present ruling party has nothing to offer them except to tell lies.

“They claim they are fighting corruption, but how many APC former governors have been arraigned.

“Nobody is against the government fighting corruption, but it must be fought with sincerity.

“Even when an APC Former Governor is indicted by a judicial commission of Inquiry , they fail to prosecute such a person.
“I just heard that they have arrested the former Niger State Governor after two years.

Maybe because political activities are picking up and they want to intimidate him, that is why this is happening now.”