Amaechi's Men On the Run......Refuses to Appear Before Wike's Probe Panel

The judicial commission of inquiry investigating the administration of former governor Rotimi Amaechi over the sale of assets and other matters has summoned ex-council chairman and a former Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emmanuel Chinda, to appear before it on Friday, August 28, 2015...The Chairman of the commission of inquiry, Justice George Omeriji, directed that they appear before the panel on August 28 or risk being arrested by the police.

Omeriji also directed that the commission’s directive summoning the former council chairmen and the ex-agric commissioner should be published in the state-owned newspaper, Nigerian Tide.

He explained that the publication of the invitation of the affected persons would serve as a notice to them to come and speak on the controversy surrounding the alleged diversion of part of an agric loan.

“It is very clear that all the persons mentioned above have failed to appear before this commission to give evidence or tender any document to enable the commission to come up with the truth of the matter.

“I have also considered the prayers of the counsel for the commission, urging the commission to ensure that the persons mentioned above appear before this commission.

“This commission is a disciplined commission. I have decided not to involve the police yet in the service of the summons on the persons mentioned above.

However, the former commissioner for agric, who is one of those allegedly involved in the diversion of the CBN’s agric loan, prayed the Rivers State High Court to restrain the panel, which is the (1st respondent), and four others, from summoning, arresting and requesting him to appear before it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chinda, through his counsel, Mr. Ken Asuwete, also urged the court to declare that the respondents violated his constitutional right to fair hearing provided by Section 36 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 as amended.

The other prayers by Chinda included, “A declaration that the respondents had unlawfully tried, adjudged and condemned the applicant in the media from as early as 7am of Friday the 21st day of August 2015, without serving the requisite summons and all processes of complaint or memoranda as required by law.

“A declaration that the counsel to the commission deliberately failed to inform the commission that no attempt known to law was explored before the media was surreptitiously engage to publish the name of the applicant in a way and manner that has defamed his character before he is to appear before the commission.”