Rivers to demand refund from Nobel Laureate over N82M dinner hosted by Amaechi

The Rivers State government has said that it will demand a refund from Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka if it discovers that he received cash from former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi who hosted an N82 million dinner in the playwright’s honour.

This was disclosed by the state’s Information Commissioner, Dr Austin Tam-George on Wednesday, January 6, 2016, during a radio programme in Port Harcourt.

Tam-George’s comments were contained in a statement released by the Special Assistant to Governor Nyesom Wike on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu.

It reads:

“I will seek the permission of the Governor to formally write Professor Wole Soyinka, a known supporter of Amaechi if he received part of the N82million spent on a 3-hour Dinner hosted for him by the Amaechi administration.”

“If he agrees that he received such funds, then he will be compelled to refund same to the coffers of Rivers State. At present, we have presented these details to the Police for investigation and prosecution. We shall also take up this matter as a financial crime against the people of Rivers State.”

Tam-George also said that Amaechi betrayed the trust of Rivers people by embarking on irresponsible expenses, which led to the mismanagement and fraudulent misuse of the N3trillion that accrued to the state under his watch.