Prove to court that seized $43m Ikoyi cash belongs to Rivers state – Amaechi to Wike
– Amaechi has challenged Wike to provide evidence that the seized $43million an Ikoyi apartment belongs to him
– He says that Wike’s “failure to prove his allegations” against him in a court of law or even in the court of public opinion has clearly vindicated him
– The minister of transportation claims that Wike is running in Rivers state “a government of lies, deceit, fraud and blood”
Minister of Transportation and immediate past Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi, has again slammed his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike, days after he (Wike) had threatened legal actions against the federal government if the over $43m was not given returned to him within seven days. Recall that Wike had claimed that the luxury Ikoyi apartment belongs to Amaechi and that the over $43m found cash was stolen Rivers fund. However, Amaechi has denied, challenging his successor and accuser to provide evidence of his ownership of the money and the apartment, The Punch reports.
In a statement released by his media office in Abuja on Sunday, May 7, Amaechi again took a swipe at Wike for his failure to go to court to prove his claims before a judge. He alleged that Wike was running in Rivers state “a government of lies, deceit, fraud and blood.” Amaechi also expressed support for the call by Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who had advised that, in the fight against corruption, detractors who deliberately create distraction should be criminalised and prosecuted.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: President Buhari leaves for London hospital tonight, May 7 – Presidency
He said: “Nigerians would recall that on the night of Friday, April 14, during his … press briefing, Wike had threatened the President Muhammadu Buhari administration … vowing the mother-of-all legal actions against the Federal Government if the over $43m was not given to him within seven days. “The seven-day ultimatum has long expired, yet no action, whether legal or otherwise by Wike to prove his … allegations and claim to the money.
“Again, on Friday, May 6, another wonderful opportunity was open for Wike to prove his … allegations against Amaechi and claim the money, before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos. “The Judge had on April 13, directed that anyone who owns the money should come forward to claim it. Neither Wike nor his lawyers were anywhere near the court.”
ALSO READ: Revealed! How prominent Nigerians are plotting ‘civil coup’ against Buhari
Amaechi noted that Wike’s “failure to prove his allegations” against him in a court of law or even in the court of public opinion clearly vindicated him “and completely exonerates Amaechi of any link or connection to the Ikoyi money and apartment.”
Earlier, plusmilang.com had reported that Governor Wike shared some documents with these caption: Governor Wike shared some documents with these caption: ”White Paper that indicted Former Governor Chibuike Amaechi for Embezzling over N500 billion Rivers state funds,” to back his claim that Amaechi embezzled N500 billion from Rivers state fund and that the over $43m found cash was stolen Rivers fund.
This came days after he (Wike) gave the federal government seven days to return the $43 million found in a luxury apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos. The governor warns that failure to return the money to the state will force his government to take legal measures to ensure that it gets it.
