Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has insisted that the $50million found in a Lagos apartment by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was stolen by his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi.
He has asked for it to be returned within seven days.
Addressing journalists at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday night, Wike said: “The money in question belongs to the former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. We want to confirm that the houses in Ikoyi also belong 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 $319million.
“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 $319million to $204,000. What was stashed at the Ikoyi residence was part of that fund”.
He continued: “We have facts to prove that the said money belongs to the Rivers State Government. The Federal Government must return our money”.
The Governor also said all the stories being peddled about the money belonging to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) were false.
“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,” Wike said.
He then called on the FG to return the money within seven days or face legal action, as the Rivers State Government needs the funds to complete several projects.
“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 concluded.
A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, had also claimed that the money belongs to Amaechi.
Fani-Kayode, who wrote this on his Twitter page, also dismissed reports that the money belonged to the NIA.
He insisted that the Minister of Transport owns the flat where the money was found.
“The $43 million is Rotimi Amaechi’s.He owns the flat it was found in too.NIA story is fake news! NIA does not keep cash in Minister’s flats!” Fani-Kayode tweeted.
Governor Ayodele Fayose’s aide, Olayinka Lere, also claims that the money belongs to the former Rivers State Governor.
“Just hearing with one ear that Amaechi may have link to the House,” Olayinka wrote on Twitter.
“Cover up game has started! Rotimi Amaechi owns the house.”
