•Amaechi
Witnesses at the Justice George Omereji-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the sale of state property by a former administration in Rivers State yesterday told members how a retired brigadier-general allegedly defrauded the state of N11 billion through the controversial monorail project contract.
Former Governor Chibuike Amaechi was absent at the sitting and did not send any legal representation.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Stella Ebere Wigwe, and the Head of Department of Safety and Aviation in the ministry, Saya Antioch, made the allegation in their evidence at the hearing.
They told the members that a company belonging to a former military administrator entered into an agreement to complete the 21-kilometre Phase I of the monorail project, which covers between Station Road’s junction at the town axis to Air Force junction at Rumuomasi, for N50 billion.
The agreement was reportedly reached under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy of the state.
The state government was to contribute 20 per cent equity while the company would bring the remaining 80 per cent.
According to the witness, while the state complied with the payment of N11 billion, the company defaulted.
It allegedly opted out of the agreement after receiving the N11 billion, representing more than the agreed 20 per cent equity contribution.
Despite the development, the government continued with the project.
The government was said to have signed a consultancy agreement with ARCUS GIBB Nigeria Limited, a South African company (as project consultant only), while the government took full responsibility for the project.
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