‘Ex-governor’s refusal to appear before probe panel shows he’s guilty,’ Wike says

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said that the refusal of his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi to appear before a probe panel set up to investigate him is an admission of guilt.

Wike also stated that the panel was not set-up to indict or witch-hunt Amaechi.

The governor made the comments on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, via a statement released by his media aide, Opunabo Inko-Tariah.

It reads:

“The Omereji’s panel was set up to probe expenditures made by Amaechi’s government which is what any responsible government will do because the tax payers’ money is not for one man-especially when certain financial transaction are opaque. It is even more important when the out-going administration demurs to hand over or when there are no handover notes.”

“The welter of criticisms by the APC in Rivers State is actuated by fear of exposure. It is just a hocus pocus.”

“The sittings were not done clandestinely and all that was expected of Amaechi and his acolytes was to appear and prove their innocence if they have no skeletons in their cupboards. After all, the governor is only borrowing a leaf from the president- the embodiment of probity and rectitude.”

“It was the same Amaechi and his cronies who questioned the proprietary of the commission and a court of competent jurisdiction confirmed the legitimacy with an addendum that it was set up in sync with the relevant laws.”

“What else are they looking for? In my personal view, therefore, their refusal to appear before the panel is an admission of guilt.”

“Amaechi set up the Justice Kayode Esho’s commission and when former Governor Peter Odili was invited, he obliged despite the fact that Justice Esho had made some uncomplimentary remarks about a perpetual injunction concerning Odili. Nevertheless, he appeared to prove his innocence.”

Amaechi had earlier said that he would not appear before the panel which he described as illegal.