Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the killings and other violent acts/matters that occurred during the December 10 rerun and supplementary elections in the state.

The constitution of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry was contained in a special government announcement signed by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr Kenneth Kobani.

According to the announcement, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry has Justice Chinwendu Nwogu as Chairman, while other members include: Mrs Grace Akpughunum-Okwulehie, Prof O.V.C. Okene, Sir Anthony Uzoma Ozurumba, Rev Canon Hossanna Nnaewi, Alphonso Sibi Esq (Chief State Counsel, Secretary) and C. B. Ekeh Esq (Principal State Counsel, Legal Counsel).

The announcement read: “In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 2 (1 ) of the Commissions of Inquiry Law of Rivers State (CAP 30) of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999 and all other powers enabling him in that behalf, the Governor of Rivers State; His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, hereby constitutes and appoints a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the killings and other violent acts/matters that occurred during the December 10, 2016 rerun/supplementary elections to elect members of the National Assembly and House of Assembly in Rivers State.

“The Judicial Commission of Inquiry which would be inaugurated on Thursday at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, has the following terms of reference.

▪Investigate the remote and immediate causes of the violence during the December 10, 2016 rerun/supplementary elections in Rivers State.

▪Identify the perpetrators of the various acts of violence and killings in the aforesaid election.

▪Identify the victims of the violence including those killed

▪Identify if property was damaged and the value of any such property

▪Determine if the violence was localised to specific areas within the state or was state-wide

▪Make appropriate recommendations concerning their findings or any other recommendations as the commission may consider appropriate in the circumstance and

▪Submit its report to the Governor of Rivers State within one month from the date of its sitting,” the statement reads.

•Excerpted from a Channels TV report.

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