Another controversy may be brewing in Rivers state following the recent report indicting several politicians including the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in the 2015 general election, Mr Asita Okorie.

The Justice Monima Danagogo commission of inquiry was set up to probe roles of individuals and state institutions in the violence that marked the March 19 legislative rerun election in the state.

The Rivers State Executive Council has asked the Attorney General to commence legal proceedings against those indicted.

Addressing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Nyesome Wike, the Commissioner of Information, Austin Tam-George, said that the council gave a directive to the state Attorney-General in line with the recommendation of the commission of inquiry to begin prosecution proceedings against the indicted persons free of charge.

“The recommendation of the commission is that some of these individuals who have been established to have been involved in acts of violence during the rerun should be made to face prosecution and the Attorney General has been mandated to initiate prosecution against them.

“One of them, Honourable Asita Okorie, was indicted by the commission for the murder of an NYSC member in Akinima, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“Number two, Thankgod Ode. He was indicted by the commission for attempted murder at Abuah Local Government Area.

“Number three; Mr Barry Inpigi. He was indicted by the report for the murder of a pregnant woman whose name is Baby Nzoghai in Tai Local Government Area.”

But some supporters of the APC have described the commission as a ploy to ridicule their leaders and destabilise the party.

According to them, there is nothing about the commission or the report that should be taken seriously.

In a meeting with the press on the matter, spokesman of the group, Barrister Forgiven Amachree said that the commission was set up to do the bidding of the State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

“We condemn in its entirety the said report which was done to intimidate and malign our leaders. “We are resolved to stand by our leaders especially those of us that are from Ahoada West, we are determined to stand by our leaders.

“We are determined to stand by our rights. We will do everything with legality to ensure that our leaders are not intimidated, that our leaders are not put in a situation where they will become uncomfortable because they know nothing about what they say they have done.”

As far as the Rivers State Attorney General, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) is concerned, those indicted should get ready to face the music.

In an interview with Channels Television, the Commissioner for Justice said those casting aspersion on the commission are doing so because it has not acted in their favour.

He said: “You cast aspersion, you malign the commission because it is not in your favour. That is the Nigeria we live in today, all revolving around fear and intimidation which those in “power” are trying to foist on Nigerians.

“The truth of the matter is that responsible people under a responsible judge sat in a commission of inquiry under law, the same laws which those who are questioning the integrity of the process used to use to set commissions of inquiry.

“The same persons who are casting aspersions on the commission refused to appear before it, knowing the kind of allegations levelled against them. The commission has made his findings and discovered that these persons were involved in murder, rape and all kinds of crimes.”

•Sourced from Channels TV. Photo shows Governor Wike.

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