Emma Chinda and other aides of Amaechi face arrest as they continue to dodge Rivers State probe panel

Emma Chinda and other aides of Amaechi continue to dodge Rivers State probe panel: A clear proof of their guilt. Panel approves their arrests

• Avoidance of panel is a  clear indication of their guilt. 
• Panel approves their arrests

For the second day running, former Commissioner for Agriculture in Rivers State, Emma Chinda, failed to honour the invitation by the judicial commission of inquiry probing the alleged diversion of the N4 billion agricultural loan released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the former Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s administration.In the same vein, 12 former local government chairmen in the state also failed to appear before the commission of inquiry at its second sitting in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.

Nigerian Tribune reports that the affected former council chairmen were Minaeichinbo Tende, Uche Nwaeke, Kadilo Kadiri, Orji Ngofa, Nnamdi Wuche, Mene Lenyie Derek and Ojukaye Flag Amachree, Ikegbidi Cassidy Okpara, Austin Ahiamadu, Ibigoni Daddy Pokima Charles Anyanwu and Nlemaa Agape.

They were invited by the probe panel to explain their roles as representatives of mother cooperative societies that allegedly diverted the CBN loan meant for the agriculture purposes in the state.

In March 2013, the Rivers State government claimed that it was improving agriculture in Rivers State. Amaechi was represented by Chinda, during the 38th annual Conference and 40th Anniversary of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production (NSAP), with the theme “Animal Agriculture: A Tool for Sustainable Economic Transformation”, at the Amphitheatre of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

He claimed that his administration had established the Songhai Centre, Fish Farms, Banana Plantation and revived the Risonpalm in addition to other initiatives to improve agricultural growth and output in the state.

“We are happy to share with you some of our strides in the area of economic development which agriculture cannot be removed from. We believe that we can develop infrastructure to the best that we can and to the best that we think we can stimulate our economy”.

Ex-Governor Maechi has been accused by the present government of Rivers State of  embezzling the states treasury to fund his lavish lifestyle

“We believe that the Songhai centre is capable of revolutionizing agriculture especially when it has to do with the small scale farmers. I want to implore you and then urge the Vice Chancellor of RSUST to try and take you to the Songhai Centre so that you see what Rivers State Government is doing and how we can look at agriculture in practical terms and how we think that by working with agriculture we can indeed develop the economy of the state. Apart from the Songhai Centre we are also doing a lot in the area of fish farms. This is to increase fish supply”, he said.

According to him, the state government had entered into partnership with private investors to start an abattoir project in the state.

“Rivers State Government has just finished arrangement to start an abattoir project which we are doing in partnership with the private sector”.

Reacting to the development, chairman of the commission, Justice George Omereji, gave an order for summon to be published, mandating the 12 former council chairmen to appear before the panel on Friday.

He gave the order after the counsel to the commission, Dr Zacheus Adangor, moved a motion for their arrest following their failure to appear.

He gave a hint that Chinda who, alongside former governor Amaechi allegedly diverted the N4billion CBN agriculture loan for political purposes, would be arrested if he fails to appear before the commission.

Omereji further directed that all the former council chairmen and commissioners allegedly used by the former administration to divert the loan which was converted to non-repayable grant should also appear to state their own side of the story.

He said the commission was disciplined and would not, at this stage, involve the police, stressing that it had power to summon any person for evidence, pursuant to the law establishing it.

The commission has power “To summon any person in Nigeria to attend any meeting of the commission to give evidence or produce any document, or other things in his possession and to examine him as a witness, or require him to produce any document or other things in his possession.”