…C’ttee to submit report within 60 days
The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, on Monday
inaugurated a 6 member Judicial Commission of Inquiry with an 8 point
terms of reference to probe the reported violence that trailed the conduct
of the re-scheduled governorship election in Southern Ijaw LGA.
The commission is expected to make its recommendations and submit its
report within 60 days.
The commission headed by Justice Margret Akpomiemie of the Bayelsa State
Judiciary, will, among other terms of reference, determine the number and
identities of persons that were injured or killed during the violence that
occurred in parts of the state between December 3 and 6.
Other members of the commission are Brig. Gen. Bob Ake (rtd), Dr. Martha
Akpana, Chief Mathias Simeon, Tamadu Abasi (counsel) while Abraham Lord
Ekiamane is secretary.
The commission has also been mandated to determine the number and
identities of casualties, if any that were killed by extra-judicial means
or by violence, or by secret cult-related activities or other related
activities in the state from 2007 till date.
Other terms of reference as assigned to the commission, include,
determining the extent of damage to properties, if any, during the said
incident.
Dickson, while performing the inauguration, stressed that the terms of
reference was not in any way political, but charged the commission to
identify the perpetrators of the said killings, violence, mayhem and
breaches of the peace and recommend appropriate sanctions.
“The commission will determine the role played by the security agencies
in the said incident, in all incidents if any; to recommend measures
aimed at averting future occurrences of such incidents and to make any
other recommendations as the commission may deem fit under the
circumstances”, he stated.
According to him, the setting up of the commission of inquiry was in line
with the powers conferred on him by Section 2 of the commission of Inquiry
Cap 8 Laws of Bayelsa State and charged the commission to do any such
lawful act for the purpose of giving effect to all the terms of reference.
Contrary to the argument of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the
governor submitted that setting up of the commission was not political but
aimed at digging deep into the root cause of the violence and bring the
perpetrators to book.
He said that whoever was indicted in the course of investigation
irrespective of his/her political affiliation and no matter highly placed
in the society would be dealt with in accordance with the state penal
code.
In his response, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry, Justice Margaret
Akpomiemie, expressed appreciation to the Governor for the confidence
reposed in them.
She urged members of the public to come forward with substantial evidence
to enable the commission discharge its responsibilities.