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| Former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi |
In responding to the allegation against former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, that he unlawfully paid and criminally converted the sum of N4,633,440,000 on the Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Hospital, Mr. George Feyii and Mr. Chamberlin Peterside who were his former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Commissioner for Finance respectively issued a statement saying the allegations by the present administration in Rivers state, and the INTEGRITY GROUP are not true.
They buttressed their position with the following:
The facts of this transaction are stated below:
i. The Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Hospital was conceived by former Governor Amaechi to address the huge tertiary health care deficit in Rivers State and indeed the country and help reduce the high cost of referrals to hospitals overseas.
ii. River State government in January 2008 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clinotech Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical Inc. Canada for the building and operation of a mega specialist hospital and leisure facility in Port Harcourt on a Public Private Partnership basis (PPP) with equity participation of Government 40% and Clinotech 60%.
iii. Clinotech conducted feasilbility studies, completed architectural designs of the hospital and moved to the given site at the old UPTH using its own funds, before a decision was taken by RVSG to relocate the hospital to Greater Port Harcourt as one of the anchor projects for the new city.
iv. In May 2008 the Rivers State Government released the sum of Four Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira ($39.2m) representing its 40% equity. However Clinotech that was supposed to make 60% equity contribution to the project was unable to meet its own obligation citing issues associated with the global financial meltdown.
v. The River State Executive Council therefore suspended the joint venture and subsequently awarded it as a turnkey contract to Clinotech with direct funding (100%) by the Government
vi. On 5th March 2010, Rt. Hon. RC Amaechi reported Dr. Harrison Ofiyai, CEO of Clinotech to the then Rivers State Commissioner of Police alleging a case of breach of contract and fraudulent diversion of funds. The Police conducted its investigation into the matter and issued a report on 24th March 2010.
vii. The Former Governor during a routine inspection of the site of the hospital on 5th May 2010 ordered the immediate suspension and evacuation of Clinotech from the hospital construction site, on the belief that the work done was not commensurate with the amount of money released for the project by the Rivers State Government.
viii. Subsequently, on 12th December 2010, the former Governor approved the setting up of a Technical Committee to determine the way forward for the project. The Committee upon completion of its work submitted a report which valued the job done by Clinotech (including material at site) at the sum of Three Billion Nine Hundred Million Naira (N3,900,000,000.00) only
ix. The final financial position between the parties (RVSG and Clinotech) on the project has been determined as reflected in the ‘Agreement for the resolution of the failed 1000-Bed (Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte) mega specialist hospital contract’, executed by the parties on 19th March 2014 (copy attached).
x. The Rivers state Government executed a Memo of Agreement (MOA) on 9th May 2014 with VMS-WILLEMEN consortium for the completion of the JAKWH on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
xi. It is clear from the foregoing that RT. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, did not maintain ‘a studied silence for seven years without making any efforts’, but is also not involved in any unlawful enrichment and criminal conspiracy to convert public funds to private use.
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