Seized Ikoyi N13bn belongs to Rivers, Wike insists

Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Wike, has
insisted that the state government will get back
the N13 bn 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 .

Gov Wike

“ 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 . ”