Political Briefs
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A MOVE by Chibuike Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, to stop the government of Nyson Wike, his successor in office, to investigate his administration has failed. A state high court sitting in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, August 20, dismissed the suit filed by Amaechi, challenging the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe his administration.
Justice Simeon Amadi, who delivered judgment in the suit, affirmed that the judicial commission of inquiry was not established to investigate the personal activities of the former governor, but to investigate previous actions of government as they affected the people of the state.
Amadi said Wike by the provisions of the law,was empowered to establish the judicial commission of inquiry to investigate previous actions of government. The judge specifically said that there was no law preventing a state government from finding out how the state’s resources were spent.
On the assertion by Amaechi that the 30 days set aside for the sitting of the judicial commission of inquiry would deny him fair hearing, Amadi maintained that the number of days set aside for the commission did not breach his (Amaechi) right to fair hearing.
According to him, since Amaechi has yet to file a memorandum before the commission and has not appeared before it, the former governor cannot complain of not being given a fair hearing.
Besides, the court stated that the 30 days set aside for the commission of inquiry were not sacrosanct and could be extended. He, therefore, described the former governor’s suit as being speculative because he failed to prove the injuries he had suffered as a result of the establishment of the commission of inquiry.
He pointed out that Amaechi was not yet on trial. He said: “The judiciary is not only the last hope of the common man, but it is also the last hope of the mighty and the movers and shakers of democracy. Those who by the benevolence of the judiciary got to power should resist the temptation to emasculate the judiciary.”
With the judgement, Emmanuel Aguwa, state attorney-general and commissioner for justice, said the commission of inquiry would soon begin its sitting and promised that it would be fair to all parties.
Winifred Enyinnaya, counsel to Amaechi, said the former governor would appeal against the judgment.
Wike had constituted the Justice George Omereji-led judicial commission of inquiry to probe the sale of assets belonging to the state by the Amaechi administration.
But Amaechi went to court to challenge the setting up of the commission of inquiry to probe his government.
— Aug 24, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT
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