Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violence, killings and other related matters that occurred during the February 23 and March 9 elections in the state.
Wike also inaugurated the judicial commission of inquiry into the violent invasion and attack on the Rivers State judiciary and destruction of public property, which occurred at the judiciary complex on May 11, 2018.
He inaugurated both commissions yesterday, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, and charged the members to submit their reports after 30 days.
Justice Monina Danagogo is the chairman of the Judicial Commission on Election Violence, while Justice Simeon Amadi chairs the commission on the invasion and attack on the state’s judiciary complex.
The governor said though the function before the two judicial commissions of inquiry would be tasking, the members should diligently work to deliver within the scheduled period.
Governor Wike said the terms of reference for the judicial commission of inquiry on violence, killings and related matters during the 2019 elections, include “to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the violence, killings and other related acts/matters which occurred during the February 23 and March 9 general election in Rivers State.”
Another term is to identify the sponsors and perpetrators of the various acts of violence and killings in the state during the period of the aforesaid elections.
Also, the commission is to identify the victims of the violence, including those killed during the said elections.
“Identify the motives, if any, behind the said violence, killings and other related acts/matters during the aforesaid general election in Rivers State.”
Governor Wike said the judicial commission of inquiry investigating the violence during the elections has 10 terms of reference.
For the judicial commission of inquiry into the invasion of the state judiciary, governor Wike said the panel has 14 terms of reference.
Some of them are: “Ascertain and identify the immediate and remote causes of and/or the motives behind the violent invasion and attack on the Rivers State judiciary, and destruction of public property, which occurred at the judiciary complex, Port Harcourt, on May 11, 2018.
“Identify the persons who participated in, masterminded, counselled or procured others to participate in the violent invasion, attack, disruption of activities of the Rivers State judiciary and destruction of public property, which occurred at the judiciary complex, Port Harcourt, on May 11, 2018.
“Identify and ascertain, the targets of the said invasion, violence and disruption of activities at the Rivers State judiciary complex on the aforementioned date.”