Court Issues Bench Warrant Against APC Former Minister Chibuike Amaechi, Guber Candidate Tonye Cole

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued a bench warrant against former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; Rivers State All Progressives Congress APC governorship candidate at the 2023 election, Patrick Tonye-Cole; and former Commissioner for Energy, Augustine Wokocha.

Recall that the Rivers State Government had filed a fresh criminal lawsuit on misappropriation of public funds against Amaechi, Wokocha and Cole after withdrawing its earlier suit. The trial judge, Justice Chiwendu Nwogu, also issued a bench warrant on Chamberlain Peterside, Sahara Energy Resources Limited, NG Powers-HPS Limited, and Cenpropsaroten Management Limited.

When the matter of the alleged sales of Rivers State assets came up for plea, counsels for the defendants unanimously informed the court of their motion on non-service of court processes, but the presiding judge insisted on issuing the bench warrant. The trial judge refused to hear the motion by the defendants and thereafter, adjourned the matter to the 5th of July, 2023.