The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said no official of his government will appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over its investigation of the State Government’s until the Court of Appeal sets aside the 2007 judgment barring the commission from investigating the state.
In a statement on Sunday in reaction to the probe of N117 billion spent by the State Government, Wike described the EFCC’s move as a political witch hunt.
In the statement by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, he said: “We are not afraid of their probe and they have no power to probe us.”
The statement added: “No government official will appear before the EFCC until they set aside the court judgment of Rivers State Government against them in 2007. We cannot be intimidated.
“They filed for leave to appeal the judgment at the Court of Appeal. Until they set aside the judgment, we will not come.”
Describing the publicity given to the allegation as a media trial, Wike said it would amount to nothing, pointing out that the government was aware of the move before it even started.
He said: “We are aware of their tricks. They should not bother engaging in media trial because it will not work. This is mere political witch-hunt.
“They must obey the court of law. We have filed another action against the EFCC. Because they have been served, they are telling the press that they have started investigating Rivers State Government.
“This media war by the EFCC will not work. We stand on the rule of law.”