The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have been urged to investigate the 24-year public service record of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
The call was made by Eshanekpe Israel, popularly known as Mayor Akpodoro, Head of the Association of Urhobo Mayoral Family Crown (AUMFC), who said Amaechi should be ready to account for his stewardship before criticising the economic policies of the present administration.
Speaking in Abuja over the weekend, Akpodoro specifically called for scrutiny of Amaechi’s eight-year tenure as Transportation Minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari and his eight years as governor of Rivers State.
The demand followed comments attributed to Amaechi in which the former minister reportedly lamented that he could not afford the medical expenses of his 89-year-old mother before her death under the current administration.
While commiserating with Amaechi over the loss, Akpodoro described the comments as contradictory and politically motivated.
He argued that Amaechi spent eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as governor and another eight years as a federal minister, saying his record in public office should therefore be open to scrutiny.
“Before pointing fingers at current economic policies, Mr Amaechi should first render an account of every kobo allocated to the Ministry of Transportation under his leadership,” he said.
Akpodoro urged the anti-graft agencies to examine major projects associated with Amaechi’s tenure, including the Rivers State monorail and a hospital project whose funding and execution have attracted public debate.
He also raised questions over what he described as reports of substantial personal expenditure by the former minister, including alleged spending on a birthday celebration, the purchase of a presidential nomination form and overseas education expenses for a family member.
However, Akpodoro did not provide documentary evidence in his statement to substantiate his claim that Amaechi’s net worth exceeds $750 million.
He instead urged the EFCC and ICPC to independently verify the former minister’s assets, public expenditure under his stewardship and projects executed during his years in government.
“Citizens deserve clarity on key projects initiated during his public career,” he said.
Akpodoro also accused Amaechi of politicising the circumstances surrounding his mother’s death, arguing that his comments on the economy were inappropriate.
He called on Nigerians to scrutinise politicians who, in his words, treat public office as a “cash cow,” stressing that accountability should apply to public officials regardless of political affiliation or status.
