The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a 9-man Judicial Commission of Enquiry to look into the July 9 and 10 crisis that rocked the Rivers State House of Assembly and the state at large.
Governor Amaechi while inaugurating the commission at the Government House, Port Harcourt, urged it to investigate the remote causes of the crisis.
Amaechi represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru told the commission to accept and scrutinize any eyewitness report and also ascertain the number of persons injured in the brawl.
Charged the commissoin to be firm and sincere, he said “investigate any other matters that may come to the knowledge of the commission in the course of the investigation.
“On behalf of the Executive Governor of Rivers state I will charge you that in the course of your deliberations you need to be active, to be firm, to be courageous and you also need to be sincere.”
In his response, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Biobele Georgewill said the team would carry out its responsibility within the ambience of the law and would not compromise their Judicial call.
Biobele also assured that the resolutions and recommendations of the commission would bring peace to the state.
“We will carry out this work with integrity to see that we resolve as much as we can the problem in the state, so that peace can be restored not only to the House of Assembly but to our dear state,” he said.
The commission has until October to come up with its report.
Other members of the commission are Barinua Keenam, Ejike Iwediba, Iboroma Akpana, Bribura Gbaragbo, Chief Goddy Abgaraosimini, Chief Desmond Wosu, Uba Agadagba and Asivosu Oriye.
Meanwhile, the PDP in Rivers state has rejected the inauguration of the Judicial Commission.
The Information officer of the PDP Chairman, Rivers State, Jerry Needam said Governor Amaechi cannot take a lead role to prosecute his own case.
According to him, “Amaechi is a principal suspect in the matter. Above all, the matter is before the senate. The senate report is expected on Wednesday. So his action is pre-empting the decision of the Senate Committee.”
Also, the Director General of the PDP in the state, Emeka Woke has described the setting-up of the commission as politically motivated and one to undermine the supposed leadership of Hon. Evans Bipi as the new speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In his words, “the commission is politically motivated to indict the new leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Our position is not to impune on the honesty and integrity of our intelligent and erudite members of the jury but that the evidence available before us- the video footage clearly indicted the governor and other top functionaries of the governor were gravely involved in the crisis rocking the Rivers state House of Assembly.”
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