Date Published: 02/09/11

ODSG begins inquiry into Arigidi and Arimogija/Imoru crisis

Ondo State Government has announced the constitution of a Commission of Inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the frequent communal disturbances at Arigidi Akoko and Arimogija/Imoru in the state.

The commission, which has Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye as its chairman is saddled with the responsibility of finding out the causes of the violence in Arigidi-Akoko in Akoko North West as well as Arimogija and Imoru in Ose Local Government Area.

Other members of the commission, which has 90 days to submit its findings and recommendations, are Mr Erastus Omolade Akinkuowo, Mr Adedefe Oni, Mr G.O Bodunde and Mrs Funmi Ogundipe.

 In a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Ranti Akerele, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the State Security Service (SSS) are to have representatives on the commission, while Mr Frederick Sileola Akinnibosun and Mr I.O Yusuf are to serve as the commission’s counsel and secretary respectively.

The Comission’s terms of reference according to the statement are as follows:

 To identify the immediate and remote causes of the communal disturbances that occurred in Arigidi-Akoko (since 2008 till date) and Arimogija/Imoru (since 2010 till date).

Identify the persons, who may directly or indirectly responsible for the crises and recommend appropriate sanctions and identify the victims.

In addition, the commission is mandated to recommend solution to forestall recurrence of the crises and make recommendations to government on appropriate sanctions where applicable.

The commission, which has all the powers inherent in a commission of inquiry under the law, shall have Babafunke Ajasin Auditorium Igbatoro Road in Akure as the venue of its meeting.