Collapsed Building: Judicial Commission Visits Site

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Rivers State Government to unravel the circumstances surrounding the collapsed 7-storey building along Woji Road, GRA, Phase 2 axis of Port Harcourt, yesterday, visited the site of the incident.
Chairman of the commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli of the Port Harcourt High Court, accompanied by other members of the committee arrived the venue of the site at about 11am on board of black Huoma Coasta.
Speaking with journalists after being conducted round the various axis of the collapsed building by an official of state Ministry of Special Duties, Justice Enebeli stated that the essence of the visit was a preparatory work to guide members of the Committee on the task ahead.
He disclosed that the mandate given them by the state governor was for the committee to find the remote and immediate causes of the tragic event and make recommendations to the state government.
According to him, the panel was a fact finding and not a regular court, adding that they were there to view the place as part of measures adopted by the committee to ensure a thorough and unbias reports.
The chairman of the panel assured that the committee would give fair hearing to every persons linked to the matter.
“The assignment is an emergency one that requires urgent attention. We will not allow an innocent man to be punished, just as we will not also allow any one culpable to go free. We have invited both individuals, corporate organisations, ministries and agencies to come with their memorandum”, he stated.
Justice Adolphus Enebeli also disclosed that the committee will have its inaugural sitting on Wednesday 19th December, 2018, adding that the Committee will sit from Monday to Saturday except Sundays due to its urgency.
He used the opportunity to call on people to submit their memorandum to the panel and assured the safety of all who will submit same to the committee.
Also speaking, an official of the State Ministry of Special Duties, Mr. Osarachi Ogunka Charles who conducted members of the Commission of Inquiry round the site of the collapsed building, said about 31 persons have been rescued alive, while 15 dead bodies were also recovered from the collapsed building.
He stated that their major task at the site was to work with the officials of the ministry, volunteers and other interest groups to ensure that those trapped in the debris of the collapsed building are rescued.
Also speaking, one of the survivors, Mr. Livingstone Smith, now working as volunteer thanked the State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for his swift intervention, adding that the promptness of government helped in the rescue of high number of survivours recorded.
It would be recalled, that following the collapsed of 7-storey building within GRA axis of Port Harcourt, the state governor Nyesom Wike constituted the Judicial Commission chaired by Justice Adolphus Enebeli, while other members include Engr. Ibroma T.S. Akobo, Emmanuel Asawo, Tpl. Ngozi, Oliver Worgu, while Arch, Otukeh Orji, Secretary, to within 30 days of their inauguration, turnout a report to the state government over the collapsed building and find out those culpable.
The State Commissioner for Urban Development, Reason Onyin had stepped outside in other to allow proper investigation into the matter, while the State Police Command said the Command said the owner of the collapsed building was in their custody and others in connection with the collapsed building have been invited for interrogations.

By: Amadi Akujobi.