The Rivers State government has vowed to jail two former commissioners, who served in the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi if they failed to refund N34.5 billion.
The money was allegedly budgeted for the Integrated Medical Industries (IMI) and syringes by the Amaechi government but was allegedly embezzled by the cronies of the administration with no trace of work done.
The Attorney General of Rivers State, Zaccheus Adango, said that N34.5 billion invested by the Rivers State government in the company was squandered.
He noted that those indicted by the Justice Constance Green Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigation on the embezzlement of the IMI funds would face the full weight of the law.
Besides, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, said: “The Honourable Attorney General has been mandated to pursue the criminal prosecution” of those involved in the sleaze.
“Those likely to face prosecution in the matter include Mr. M. Nwokoma, who was the Project Manager of IMI; Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, and Dr. Samson Parker, who served as Commissioner of Health for the eight years that Amaechi’s administration lasted.
“Once the white paper is published, the Honourable Attorney General will commence the prosecution,” Okah said.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State government said it had commenced the disbursement of interest-free loans to traders and entrepreneurs to ease business development in the state.
Okah said that the state government had also disbursed interest-free loans to civil servants under the first phase of the programme, adding that the empowerment programme would run on a monthly basis for civil servants in the state.
Also, Special Adviser to the Rivers State governor on Politics and Strategy, Emeh Glory Emeh, said that the interest-free loans for entrepreneurs and traders had been disbursed to 12 local government areas.
Emeh said that under the second phase of the exercise, 11 local government areas would benefit from the scheme.
He noted that 600 traders and entrepreneurs had benefited from the empowerment scheme, while N200 million would be disbursed monthly.
He added that the list of all beneficiaries would be published for Rivers people to know the beneficiaries.
