By Mark Lenu
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Johnson Amadi has asked the judicial commission of inquiry led by Justice Ibiwengi Minakiri to recommend the prosecution of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike over his failure to appear before the commission.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry was set up by the Rivers State Government to investigate the arson, killings, and destruction of property in some local government secretariats of the state.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara inaugurated the seven-man panel headed by Justice Ibiwengi Minakiri in early October and was given one month to conclude its findings.
The commission summoned Wike, through courier service and a newspaper advertorial signed by its chairperson, to appear before it on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
But Wike did not show up, prompting the chieftain to urge the commission to recommend the prosecution of the FCT Minister, describing Wike’s absence as a disrespect to constituted authority.
“The violence that broke out after the October 5 LG election was carried out by pro Wike supporters who had never loved the state since Wike had a fallout with Fubara.
“Wike has questions to answer before the commission and failure to appear before the panel makes it an indictable offence. I therefore urge the commission to recommend his prosecution,” the chieftain said.
In her remarks at the end of the commission sittings on Tuesday, Minakiri disclosed that the FCT minister did not honor the invitation, saying the day was solely reserved for him to appear to clarify some grey areas.
The judge said, “Today will mark the last day we are sitting. As we rise today, that brings us to the end of the sitting of this Commission, except there is a direction from His Excellency to do otherwise as permitted by the law under which we are operating.”
