News

Probe Panel: Experts Task Parties On Appearance

Published

9 years ago

August 31, 2015

Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), A.A Kumapayi (left), exchanging pleasantry with Zonal Commanding Officer, RSG HQ, B. Darwang (middle), during a 3rd quarter stakeholders/ Fleet Operation Forum at the command’s head quarters in Port Harcourt. With them is Section Head of Operation, Mrs R.N Monyei

Some legal experts have called on parties involved in the sale and disbursement of agriculture scheme loans by the immediate past administration to appear before the probe panel constituted by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to clear allegations against them.
They spoke against the backdrop of the failure of some parties to appear before the Justice George Omeregi-led panel which started public hearing last week.
Speaking during a media interactive forum organised by Silverbird Communications in Port Harcourt at the weekend, the immediate past President of Christian Lawyers of Nigeria (CLN), Chukuma Chinwo, and another lawyer, Eugene Odey, said failure of the parties to appear makes them culpable.
Chinwo explained that claims made by some of the parties, especially those who served in the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration that the panel is biased, was not convincing enough since former administrations had set up similar panels to investigate some grey areas of governance.
For instance, Chinwo cited the case when the Amaechi administration set up the Eso panel, which former Governor Peter Odili and Dr Abiye Sekibo appeared to defend themselves.
He also cited the Ogbakiri panel set up by Odili to investigate the remote and immediate causes of crisis in Ogbakiri community.
The legal practitioner further opined that the Omeregi panel does not fall short of the law as the Supreme Court had in the past upheld the powers of state governments to set up panels of inquiry which are purely investigative and not courts of law.
He insisted that, “such panels abide by the principle of natural justice, and so, it does not have the powers to hold anybody liable but rather on a fact finding mission”.
Chinwo further argued that since the probe panel has not displayed bias so far, parties do not have any reason to shun appearance, adding that, “the only option any person has is to go to appeal, if one feels he did not get a fair hearing.”
The same view was held by Barrister Eugene Odey, who contended that the judgment of Justice Amadi over the constitution of the panel validates the legality of the body, since it is empowered to make recommendations to government.
Since the panel is expected to come up with a White Paper at the end of its sitting, Odey reasoned that it will be advisable for the parties to appear and defend themselves, since the matter may likely be documented for future references.
In the words of Odey, “Once the White Paper is out, government may be compelled to take other steps, and so, the individuals involved should make sure they defend themselves.”
The legal practitioner maintained that since nobody is above the law, the parties should avail themselves of the opportunity to clear allegations against them, emphasizing that it is one way to fight corruption and impunity in the country.

News

Why Wike Is Playing God In Rivers -Asari Dokubo

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2024

The Tide

A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is “playing god” in the current political crisis that has pitched him against the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Dokubo also chided President Bola Tinubu for, according to him, handing over “Rivers and Bayelsa” to the ex-governor.
“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in a video that surfaced on X.com on Monday.
He added, “I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man”
In April, Fubara revealed that the administration has raised the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of the state from N12 billion which he met upon assumption of office to N27 billion.
Dokubo described the development as commendable while alleging that the governor only had access to N6 billion when he assumed office.
“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N27bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the ongoing crisis, Fubara on Monday said that he would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticized recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
He stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”

News

Investors, Tourists To Get Visa Within 48 Hours, FG Assures

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2024

The Tide

The Federal Executive Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee to streamline visa processes and acquisition for investors interested in investing in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this, yesterday, after the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.
“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.
The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

News

Panel To Probe Governance In Rivers Underway -Fubara …Swears In Iboroma As New Attorney-General

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2024

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
Fubara disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticised recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
Fubara stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”
Addressing the new AG, the governor said, “You have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance.”
The governor further said there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration, saying, “If we disagree, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement there is no headway to it, and for many reasons, there is very visible evidence that there is sabotage, a deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“Maybe where they are they are telling them nothing will happen, it is happening here live, we have our own legislators that are performing their duties according to the Constitution. So that record is threatened.”