The Patriots Alliance (TPA) has welcomed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC’s) decision to investigate the petition by a group asking the commission to investigate the proceeds of sale of Rivers State government assets by former Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s administration.
The Integrity Group had claimed that the state electric power projects were sold and the proceeds converted to other uses through payments amounting to N60billion to three firms located at Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt.
Reacting to the petition, The Patriots Alliance in a statement signed by one Solomon Okocha, said the EFCC’s probe will put an end to the “premature and endless name calling in Rivers State”.
It, however, expressed fears that in view of a High Court judgment obtained by another former Governor of Rivers, Dr. Peter Odili, where he was granted a perpetual injunction stopping security agencies including the EFCC from investigating him for corruption, the present investigation could well be “dead on arrival”.
The statement reads in part: “We understand that EFCC had immediately appealed the ruling in the Court of Appeal. But eight years after, the appellate 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 Governor Nyesom Wike.
“We hereby urge the EFCC as a matter of necessity and public good, to approach the Court of Appeal to set aside that obnoxious perpetual injunction as soon as possible.
“It is also necessary that the judiciary demonstrates a determination to combat corruption or frivolous corruption allegations by the quick dispensation of corruption cases at the courts.
“Where cases are allowed to linger in courts, it allows for the continued violations of the rights of the accused persons”.
