Probe Panel: Experts Task Parties On Appearance

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.