Former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, was yesterday expected to appear in the well-publicised exercise, as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry commenced investigation into the monorail project. However, Amaechi failed to appear before the commission investigating the multi-billion naira project executed by his administration. The immediate past governor of the state was alleged to have sacked members of his cabinet to award the monorail contract to a firm, PSI Property and Investment Holding Limited, for N50 billion. Head of Safety and Aviation Department, Ministry of Transport, Saya Antioch, disclosed this yesterday, in his testimony before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the sale of the State Valued Assets and Other Related Matters. Antioch told the commission chaired by Justice George Omereji, that members of Amaechi’s cabinet wanted the monorail contract to be awarded to Urbanod, an America-based company, while the governor insisted that PSI would execute the job. As stated by him, Urbanod offered to do the 27.1 kilometres total tracks for 15 per cent less than what PSI Limited offered. Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Stella Wigwe, had told the commission that the past government was not prudent in the money allegedly spent on the project. Mrs. Wigwe disclosed that N33.9 billion was spent on Phase 1 A, out of the N50 billion meant for the entire Phase 1. She stated that the total cost estimated for the monorail project was 250 million Euros, adding that the original concept of the project was to start at the end of Aggrey to Air Force Gulf Club. Meanwhile, a group, The Patriots Alliance (TPA), has commended the EFCC for commencing investigation into the controversial petition by a pro Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) body – Integrity Group, against Amaechi, over issues pertaining to the proceeds of sale of state government assets. In a statement, TPA said: “We are also happy that the EFCC has written to the Rivers State Finance Ministry and the Accountant-General demanding details of contracts. We believe that this move will put an end to the premature and endless name calling in Rivers State. “But in view of the judgment procured by former Governor Peter Odili from Justice Buba of the Federal High Court, where he granted a perpetual injunction stopping security agencies including the EFCC from investigating the Governor of Rivers State for corruption, we are afraid that this present investigation is dead on arrival. “We understand that EFCC had immediately appealed the ruling in the Court of Appeal; but eight years after, the court is yet to hear the case. We are also aware that it is the same order of perpetual injunction that stalled EFCC’s corruption and abuse of public office case against the present Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike,” it stated.
