Daniel fails to stop Ogun Truth Panel

Former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, for the second time, failed yesterday to stop the Ogun Truth Commission from enquiring into assassinations and abuses between January 2003 and May 29, 2011.

On October 27, Daniel’s counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, got an injunction restraining Governor Ibikunle Amosun and members of the panel from probing or asking Daniel and any member of his administration to appear before the commission for questioning.

Yesterday, Daniel, through his counsel, Dr. Yemi Oke, prayed the commission to adjourn indefinitely, pending the determination of an appeal filed before the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The panel, headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Pius Aderemi, threw out the application at its inaugural sitting yesterday, saying it lacked merit.

The commission’s counsel, Mr. Olubunmi Koleowo, urged members to discountenance the application, arguing that he has not been served any process.

Koleowo said: “An appeal does not operate as a stay of proceedings. Daniel is not a party before the commission and has not been cited as a respondent before it.”

Amosun set up the panel on September 14 to look into unresolved cases of assassination and abuse of some Ogun State indigenes between January 2003 and May 29, 2011.

Members of the commission are Mr. Pius Aderemi, Mr. Abdulahi Mustapha, Mr. Dalopo Akinsanya, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, Mr. Tunji Onabamwo and Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju.

The panel is to also identify individuals, institutions and groups, whose activities resulted in killings or abuse, identify victims, ascertain the extent of damage to the property of such victims and offer appropriate measures and sanctions against the perpetrators, conspirators and master minds of the acts.

The panel is expected to look into the killing of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in the 2007 governorship election, Otunba Dipo Dina; the disappearance of Animashaun Lemomu; the killing of 65 supporters of Amosun between 2005 and 2009; the assassination attempt on Daniel’s former Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wale Adedayo; and the harassment and threat to the life of former Ijebu East Local Government Chairman Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye.

The Nation