Seized Ikoyi N13bn belongs to Rivers, Wike insists

Olaleye Aluko

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has insisted that the state government will get back the N13bn recovered in an apartment in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos State, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Wike said this on Saturday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

The governor said he would not give any evidence yet, so that the Federal Government would not know the state government’s moves.

He said, “The ultimatum I gave on the recovered money hasn’t elapsed. Yes, I did that, but you have lawyers working with you. They tell you; wait, we don’t want to go by the way you have said. Although I am a lawyer too, I am sitting as a governor. I am directly affected and emotionally involved.

“The so-called government has set up a committee. Let’s wait and see what the committee would say. Let’s see whether they will or will not invite the state government.

“We cannot make submissions to the committee because you don’t know where they meet; you don’t know where they sit. Everybody knows the money belongs to Rivers State. Who are all the people making contentions about the money? They are the same government. Don’t mind that the NIA DG was not appointed by the present government. He was in government.

Wike noted that the state government would come open with its evidence on the money at the appropriate time.

He said, “Despite claims by the NIA DG, the CBN came out to say, ‘how did you get this money? We didn’t give you any money.’ Who would release such volume of dollars to a government agency and security agency? Where would it come out from? They have denied the money.

“When you are fighting powerful forces, you don’t let out your strategies. All I know is that this money belongs to Rivers and no amount of intimidation or going to court can scare us.

“If I tell you how that money came to be ours, am I not revealing secrets to them? Everybody saw what happened how the money (for power assets in Rivers) was paid and given to the bureau de change. When we get to the point of the full details, everything will be open. Don’t tell us to come out with our evidence. We will come out when it is the appropriate time.”