You can probe Amaechi, court to Rivers govt

Firstclass newsline gathered that the Rivers State High Court sitting
in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, dismissed the suit filed by a former
governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, challenging the setting up
of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe his administration.
The State Governor, Chief Nyesom 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 had gone to court to challenge the setting up of the
commission of inquiry to probe the immediate past government.
However, 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.
Justice Amadi added that the commission was established to investigate
the previous actions of government as they affected the people of the
state.
According to him, Wike, by the provisions of the law, is empowered to
establish the judicial commission of inquiry to investigate previous
actions of government.
Justice Amadi 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 will deny him fair hearing,
Justice 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.
The court stated that the 30 days set aside for the commission of
inquiry were not sacrosanct and could be extended.
The court described Amaechi's suit as being speculative because the
former governor failed to prove the injuries he had suffered as a
result of the establishment of the commission of inquiry.
Amadi added that the terms of reference of the commission did not
accuse the former governor of crime – contrary to the former
governor's claim.
He pointed out that the former governor was not on trial, saying, "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."
However, the Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for
Justice, Mr. Emmanuel Aguma, explained that with the court ruling, the
commission of inquiry could begin its sitting and promised that it
would be fair to all parties.
Aguma pointed out that the court decision on the matter had shown that
no claimant could run to a court to stop the "legitimate business" of
a judicial commission of inquiry.
But Amaechi's counsel, Mrs. Winifred Enyinnaya, said the former
governor would appeal against the judgment.
Firstclassnewsline.net