Court issues bench warrant against Amaechi, Tonye Cole for ‘failing to honour invitation’

A high court judge, Justice Chinwendu Nwogu, in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, has issued a bench warrant against the former Minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi and the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Tonye Cole.

The Judge also issued a bench warrant against Sahara Energy Resources Limited, Chamberlain Peterside, NG powers HPS Limited, and Cenpropsaroten Management Limited following a lawsuit filed by the Rivers state government for alleged misappropriation of public funds against Amaechi during his tenure as governor of the state from 2007 to 2015.

The bench warrant was issued against the defendants as a result of the absent before the court over the criminal charges against them.

Criminal charges were filed after Governor Nyesom Wike constituted a seven-man panel in 2022 to probe Amaechi over an alleged withdrawal of N96 billion from the treasury during his tenure as governor. They investigated sale of valuable assets such as Omoku Gas Turbine, Afam Gas Turbine, Trans Amadi Gas Turbine, Eleme Gas Turbine, Olympia Hotel, and the contract award for the execution of the monorail project.

Though Amaechi has insisted that he is not guilty of fraud, the supreme court dismissed his application challenging the probe.