Rivers Panel Of Inquiry Adjourns Sitting Till August 28

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike, to probe the immediate past administration of the former governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has adjourned sitting till Friday, August 28. The adjournment came with a threat to issue a warrant of arrest to any official of the former administration who refuses to honour its invitation.

This follows an earlier invitation of the former Commissioner of Agriculture of the former administration, Emmanuel Chindah that was not honoured.

Channels TV report continues:

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have disagreed on whether the panel has the moral justification to probe Amaechi.

The Chairman of the Commission said that the mission of investigating the alleged sale of state assets and other matters of disbursement of funds under the administration of Amaechi will respect the rule of law.

The APC in the state, however, claimed that the constitution of the panel is questionable and its findings cannot be reliable.

Meanwhile Leadership reports that no fewer than 12 former chairmen of local government councils in Rivers State yesterday refused to appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the sale of valued assets of the state during the administration of former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

This is as the former commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Emmanuel Chinda, who refused to appear before the Justice George Omereji -led commission for the second time, yesterday approached the State High Court seeking an order to stop the commission from inviting him.
Chinda and the former local government chairmen are being invited to explain their roles in the disbursement of N4 billion Agricultural Credit Scheme from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by the Ministry of Agriculture under the administration of Amaechi.

The invited former council bosses include, Minaeichinbo Tende, Uche Nwaeke, Kadilo Kadiri, Oji Ngofa, Nnamdi Wuche, Mene Lenyie Derek and Ojukaye Flag Amachree.
Others included Ikegbidi Cassidy Okpara, Austin Ahiamadu, Ibigoni Daddy Pokima, Charles Anyanwu and Nlemaa Agape.

In his statement, chairman of the commission, Omereji, gave an order to be published in the state-owned newspaper, mandating the 12 former council chairmen to appear on Friday, August 28, 2015, adding that the commission was disciplined and would not involve the police, stressing that it had power to summon any person for evidence pursuant to the law establishing it.

He said, “The commission has power to summon any person in Nigeria to attend any meeting of the commissioners to give evidence or produce any document, or other thing in his possession and to examine him as a witness, or require him to produce any document or other thing in his possession.

“It is very clear that all the persons mentioned above have failed to appear before this commission to give evidence, or tender any document to enable the commission come up with the truth of the matter. I have also considered the prayers of the counsel for the commission, urging the commission to ensure that the persons mentioned above appear before this commission.