THE Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Opunabo Inko-Tariah, has said that the nomination of the immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, as a minister will not stop the implementation of the Justice George Omereji-led judicial commission of inquiry.
Opunabo explained that no minister was insulated from prosecution if found guilty of ineptitude, adding that ministers do not enjoy immunity.
He said on Tuesday that, “The nomination of Rotimi Amaechi doesn’t in any way deprive the recommendations of the Justice Omereji’s panel of its effect. Ministers have no immunity and so can’t be insulated from prosecution if and when found guilty of any ineptitude.
“Nevertheless, I am not privy to the findings and recommendations of the panel and so I’m not in a position to say whether they are against or in favour of Amaechi to warrant prosecution.”
It will be recalled that the River State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, had set a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the sales of assets belonging to the state by the immediate past administration.
Wike had also vowed that his administration would implement the recommendations of the panel without fear or favour.
It will also be recalled that Amaechi, who refused to appear before the panel, described it as a witch-hunt and a ploy by the governor and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state to damage his reputation.
However, Amaechi was one of those whose names was sent to the Senate by the Federal Government to be screened before being confirmed as ministers.
But Opunabo, who spoke in a telephone interview with The PUNCH, explained that he was not privy to the content of the Justice Omereji-led panel report and would not be able to say if it was in Amaechi’s favour or not.
Meanwhile, there was jubilation in the camp of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress over Amaechi’s nomination as a minister by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The state APC described the development as a befitting independence anniversary gift by the Nigerian leader to Rivers State and her people.
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