October 8, 2008
SaharaReporters, New York
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today charged Mr. Nyeson Wike, the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, with various counts of stealing N4.67 billion from the state’s coffers.
Wike was arraigned before Justice Abimbola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gudu area of Abuja. He is charged with six counts of stealing, abuse of office and embezzlement of public funds.
The first count accuses Mr. Wike of stealing N129 million, the second involves stealing N41.9 million, a third count accuses him of stealing N100 million, while the sixth count states that he pilfered N3.5 billion naira.
On Monday, EFCC officials arrested and detained Mr. Wike after he showed up at the agency’s offices accompanied by the secretary to the state government, Magnum Abbe. Mr. Abbe was also detained, but has been released on bail pending further investigations by the agency regarding financial scams perpetrated by state government officials using a state account domiciled with Zenith Bank in Port Harcourt.
The charges against Mr. Wike reveal that N4.67 billion went through his personal bank account at Zenith Bank. A senior EFCC official told SaharaReporters the agency suspects that the funds were laundered by the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, through Wike’s account.
A source close to Amaechi confided in our correspondent that the governor and his strategists are designing strategies to evade direct interrogation of the governor by EFCC officials.
Governor Amaechi traveled to London with the commissioner of finance as well as the state Accountant General ostensibly for “official reasons.” An EFCC official told our correspondent that the agency is interested in questioning both the governor as well as the finance commissioner and accountant general “in order to get to the root of the shocking movement of state funds through private accounts.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today charged Mr. Nyeson Wike, the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, with various counts of stealing N4.67 billion from the state’s coffers.
Wike was arraigned before Justice Abimbola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gudu area of Abuja. He is charged with six counts of stealing, abuse of office and embezzlement of public funds.
The first count accuses Mr. Wike of stealing N129 million, the second involves stealing N41.9 million, a third count accuses him of stealing N100 million, while the sixth count states that he pilfered N3.5 billion naira.
On Monday, EFCC officials arrested and detained Mr. Wike after he showed up at the agency’s offices accompanied by the secretary to the state government, Magnum Abbe. Mr. Abbe was also detained, but has been released on bail pending further investigations by the agency regarding financial scams perpetrated by state government officials using a state account domiciled with Zenith Bank in Port Harcourt.
The charges against Mr. Wike reveal that N4.67 billion went through his personal bank account at Zenith Bank. A senior EFCC official told SaharaReporters the agency suspects that the funds were laundered by the state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, through Wike’s account.
A source close to Amaechi confided in our correspondent that the governor and his strategists are designing strategies to evade direct interrogation of the governor by EFCC officials.
Governor Amaechi traveled to London with the commissioner of finance as well as the state Accountant General ostensibly for “official reasons.” An EFCC official told our correspondent that the agency is interested in questioning both the governor as well as the finance commissioner and accountant general “in order to get to the root of the shocking movement of state funds through private accounts.”
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