Former majority leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, yesterday rose in defence of the immediate past governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi, when he discosed how lawmakers approved the withdrawal of N49 billion from the state’s Reserve Fund.
Amaechi had been accused by the present administration of looting N53 billion from the coffers of the state.
The former leader, who absolved Amaechi of any wrong-doing in a statement personally issued yesterday said: “Sometime in 2013, funds accruing to state governments in the country from the Federation Account began to dwindle. Thus, the Rivers State Government, like other states of the federation, began to experience grave challenges in fulfilling its capital and re-current expenditure demands. After exhausting all available sources of funds, the state government was constrained to resort to the Reserve Fund.
“Accordingly, and in strict compliance with extant laws, Amaechi made two requests in writing to the House of Assembly for a resolution to access the fund. The house, after extensive deliberations approved the withdrawal of the first tranche of N30,000,000,000 in February 2014 and another N19,000,000,000 in October 2014.
“It is worthy of note that the House did not stop at approving the said sums, but also ensured the funds were deployed for the purposes for which they were drawn. And we were satisfied with the deployment of the funds, having complied strictly with extant laws. It is crystal clear that Amaechi is without blemish whatsoever.”
He dismissed the Justice George Omereji-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which investigated the allegations against Amaechi, saying, it lacked the powers to look into the state’s finances or expenditure on the basis of the judgment of Justice I. N. Buba of the Federal High Court.