The Rivers High Court has ordered substituted service on former Transport Minister Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, in the charges filed against him by the Rivers State Government.
The State Prosecutor, C.F. Amadi had on June 20th filed a nine-count of stealing, conspiracy and cheating against Amaechi; Rivers All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Tonye Cole; Dr. Chamberlain Peterside; Sir Augustine Wokocha; Sahara Energy Resources Limited; NG Powers-HPS Limited and Cenpropsaroten Management Limited.
The State had instituted a criminal proceeding against the defendants alleging among others that Sahara Energy Resources Limited, owned by Cole and NG-Powers-HPS Limited between 2011 and 2012 with intent to cheat agreed to purchase from Rivers Government 70 percent equity held by the state in the power generation assets in the four turbines in the sum of $302,960,000USD
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, The Presiding Judge, Justice David Gbassm granted the prayers of Amadi and substituted four major newspaper publications.
He granted the prosecution leave to serve the information and other processes in the criminal proceedings, charge number: PHC/1818/CR/2022 on all the defendants in the two newspapers.
“Order is also made deeming the publication of the information and other processes in these proceedings in the Guardian Newspaper and the Nation newspaper as good and proper service,” the judge said.
Gbassm adjourned the matter to July 12th for pleas.
