N150 billion Amaechi Loot: Jittery Amamechi writes US’s Bancorp Bank to return $757m treasury loots

The eyes of a criminal! N150 billion Amaechi Loot: Jittery Amamechi writes US’s Bancorp Bank to return $757m treasury loots 

Panic-stricken Rotimi Amaechi had written his bankers in the United States to returning a whooping $757 million dollars (about N150 billion) he stole from the Rivers State treasury. CNN's Christiane Amanpour accused the former governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi of stacking the sum of $757 million dollars in Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in the United State. Amaechi is currently facing probe by the Nyesom Wike-led Rivers State government. Efforts made by Amaechi to scuttled the probe failed, when a court recently ruled that the probe is legitimate.

According to Naija247News, Amaechi, who is currently claiming that he left a paltry N10 billion for the new government in Rivers State had written to Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in the United States that the alleged $757 million Dollars domiciled in an account in his name, from a Rivers State Government Account with Access Bank Plc, was authorized by him in error. 

The former governor’s letter reveals that a similar letter was also written to a bank in Switzerland, alleging that a similar authorization was made in error. The letter stated that the said transfers to both banks were for the purchase of security helicopters, payments to a foreign company to combat malaria in Rivers state by using helicopters to spray mosquito insecticides, and for the purchase of an official residence for Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, in America. 

The letter further explained that the payments for the security helicopters, and mosquito insecticides to fight malaria were made through other sources, after the funds had already been transferred abroad. He reminded the bank that the Rivers State law on his severance package, provides for an official residence for a former governor; of which he chose to have his residence in America. 

The former governor said that, this law was later amended to have his official residence built in Nigeria, after the funds had already been transferred to Bancorp/Minnesota Account. Amaechi said these changes were the reasons he communicated the consultants for purchase of security helicopters, his official residence in the U.S and the Insecticide companies not to access the funds; since they have been paid through other sources.

Integrity Group outed Rotimi Amaechi, a close ally of
Gen Buhari as a criminal who looted public treasury

Amaechi was recently outed as a criminal who looted Rivers State treasury dry by the Integrity Group, who petitioned Buhari to probe Amaechi's regime. The Integrity Group, a non-governmental has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Nigeria's sole administrator General Muhammadu Buhari to probe his campaign 'banker', the immediate past governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State over various corrupt allegations. In the petition the group listed the various funds stolen by Amaechi.

On receipt of the governor’s letter by the Bancorp Bank, the bank has written to the Federal Government of Nigeria to repatriate the said funds to Rivers State treasury. Investigations further revealed that General Muhammadu Buhari is not disposed to this request to repatriate the said funds without a trial of the former governor; to ascertain the governor’s alleged errors in these transactions. 

"Why would it take Christiane Amanpour of CNN, to remind Amaechi of such errors of over N80 billion Naira public funds in two different countries, and why in his name ?” Buhari allegedly queried.

It should be noted that Amaechi was one of the biggest backers of Buhari and it has been alleged a shouldered bulk of Buhari's campaign funds. His trial and incaration may help shore up Buhari's dwindling reputation.

Related Stories:

• Arrest Amaechi Now! Integrity Group petitions EFCC and Buhari over Amaechi's monumental fraud in Rivers State
• That video Rotimi Amaechi doesn't want you to see! Documentary reveals how Amaechi depleted Rivers State treasury
• How Amaechi funded Buhari's campaign: Billions surreptitiously wired into DODGY accounts few days before APC primaries

I left N10 billion for Wike - Amaechi

Former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has said he left a balance of between eight to ten billion naira for his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike.

In a statement from his media office yesterday, the former governor denied that he handed over an empty treasury to his successor.

The statement by the former Governor’s media office, yesterday, revealed that a total of N7.5 billion cash was left behind as balances in the State Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, account with Skye Bank, FAAC account with Zenith Bank, balances with Access Bank and funds in the State reserve fund account in First Bank.

“This is besides other balances in the state Government House account with Zenith Bank and other government MDA accounts, like the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP. By the time you pull all these together, we are looking at readily available cash in the region of eight to ten billion naira left for the Wike administration.”

“It’s also pertinent to point out here that former governor Amaechi also left economic assets worth tens of billions of naira for the state. Just like cash, the assets store value. These assets that are scattered in diverse sectors of the economy were developed or built or procured with revenue that accrued to the state during Amaechi’s tenure. The assets belong to Rivers State, not Amaechi. Some of these assets are presently yielding revenue to the state coffers, and many can be easily and readily converted to cash, if the State so desires.

“It is therefore disingenuous and fraudulent for Wike to claim that Amaechi left an empty treasury in his bid to justify the N30 billion loans he collected under 30 days in office. Rather than this puerile and silly distraction of always pointing accusing fingers at Amaechi, Wike should come out to explain to Rivers people what he took the loans for, account for and justify every kobo that has been spent from the loans”, the statement concluded.

But media aide to governor Nyesom Wike, Mr Opunabo Nko-Tariah, described the claim by the former governor as another tissue of lies, stressing that if he left what he claimed how come civil servants, pensioners , footballers, contractors were owed by his government.

He said even students on the state scholarship program overseas were almost sent out of the classroom over unpaid fees, adding that the issue was not all about empty treasury alone as properties in Government House, Port Harcourt were allegedly looted before the handover date of May 29..

Governor Wike had consistently maintained that he met a completely empty treasury when he took over as governor.

Only on Wednesday, while trying to justify why he took a total of N30 billion bank loans from Zenith and Access banks under 30 days in office, Wike had through his spokesman, Opunabo Inko-Tariah told a radio station in Port Harcourt that he met an empty treasury when he took over government.

However, Amaechi has openly put a lie to Wike’s claim, saying he left billions of naira in cash and economic assets for Rivers State.

Related Stories:

• Arrest Amaechi Now! Integrity Group petitions EFCC and Buhari over Amaechi's monumental fraud in Rivers State
• That video Rotimi Amaechi doesn't want you to see! Documentary reveals how Amaechi depleted Rivers State treasury
• How Amaechi funded Buhari's campaign: Billions surreptitiously wired into DODGY accounts few days before APC primaries