Rivers crisis: Commission summons Wike, Mbu, others

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis has summoned some of the personalities immediately or remotely connected in the crisis.

Among those summoned, according to a statement signed by the Chairman of the commission, Justice Biobele Georgewill, on Thursday, were the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike and the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.

According to the statement, those summoned would be needed to appear before the commission and respond to allegations leveled against them.

Also summoned to appear before the panel are; Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Felix Obuah, as well as some members of the state House of Assembly, including Evans Bipi, Victor Ihunwo, Micheal Okechukwu Chinda, Martins Amaewhule, and the former chairman of Emohua Local Government Area of the state, Honourable Chukwuemeka Woke.

The commission also demanded the presence of the General Managers of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), the  reporter of Television Continental (TVC), Mrs Oluchi Iwuoha Chimezie, General Manager of 92.7 Nigeria Info FM and the Port Harcourt Area Commander, Nigeria Police.

Chairman of the Commission, Justice Georgewill, said it had received three memoranda from the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Dan-Amachree; House Leader, Chidi Lloyd, and another one jointly signed by 25 lawmakers of the Assembly.

In the statement entitled: ‘Judicial Commission of Inquiry insists on fair hearing to all the parties in the crisis that rocked the Rivers State House of Assembly’, Georgewill stated that it had become imperative to make the notice public since those mentioned had refused to appear before the commission.

“The judicial commission believes, having taken this step to ensure due notice of the allegation in a newspaper, all those whose names or organisations were  mentioned in those memos would seize the opportunity of this publication to respond to these memos and submit their response to the judicial commission through the Hon. Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, High Court 11, Port-Harcourt, on or before 12 noon, Tuesday, 20th Day of August, 2013, when hearing of the evidence of those who have submitted memos to the judicial commission will earnestly commence from day to day until the public sitting of the judicial commission is concluded with,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the commission had rejected the plea of counsel to Dan-Amachree, Mr Ken Atsuwete, for it to be relocated to a place where his client could give his evidence.

Atsuwete made the application on grounds that the security detail of the Speaker had been withdrawn by the police and may be at risk if allowed to come to the commission.

Ruling, the panel chairman said it was too early for such application to be made, pointing out that there were others who would give evidence and that the commission could only consider such application if the need arises in future.