Amaechi: I never requested, collected pension from Rivers Govt

Hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos ordered the Federal Government to “recover pensions collected by former governors, now serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly, Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has defended his integrity.
Amaechi was Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 and governor between 2007 and 2015.
He was appointed minister by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo also directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws permitting former governors and other former public officials to collect such pensions.
The judgement followed an application for an order of mandamus in suit number FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
But, Amaechi, in his reaction, said rather than collect money from the state government, such should be given to pensioners.
He reacted on his Twitter handle: “I have never requested for or collected one kobo as pension from Rivers State Government. If offered, I will politely decline and request that the money should be given to Rivers State pensioners.
“I do not believe that I should receive pension as former governor of Rivers State while serving as a minister”.