Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Tuesday November 19 failed to appear before the River State Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the destruction of some local government secretariats in the heat of the political crisis in the state.
The Trumpet recalls that on October 7, 2024, arsonists invaded some local government council secretariats in the state, looted properties while setting parts of the secretariats ablaze.
Following the incident, State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara set up Special Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the incident and make recommendations to government.
The Commission headed by Hon Justice I. R. Minakiri in exercise of its duties summoned 109 witnesses and gave them dates to appear before the commission at High Court 15 C of the State Court complex.
The commission had summoned Wike who is the immediate past Governor of the state to appear on November 19, 2024 in an advertorial dated November 12, 2024 titled “Summons under section 7&8 of the Rivers State Commission of enquiry law, Cap 30,”
It said Wike’s invite followed calls by some persons from Emuoha Local Government Area who submitted a memorandum to the commission along with downloaded video clips from the internet.
The panel further said a copy of the summon and the video clips had been sent to the FCT Minister by courier service.
Justice Minakiri advised Wike to listen to the clip and take necessary action over the content of the video.
Read also: Ebonyi govt slams PDP over criticism of Airport Runway inauguration
The document read, “Pursuant to the call and receipt of memoranda by the judicial commission of inquiry into the arson, killings and wanton destruction of property at some local government council headquarters in Rivers State, a very pertinent message conveyed to the public, by direct statement and in songs by some persons in a video clip posted on the internet, downloaded and submitted by the Emohua Local Government Council concerning Your Excellency, Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, places a demand on the commission to respectfully call Your Excellency for reaction before the commission.
“A copy of this summons has been sent to Your Excellency along with the said video clip by courier service, for Your Excellency’s ease of listening and necessary reaction.
“By the invitation, Your Excellency’s reaction is expected before the commission on 19th November 2024. Time: 11 am. Venue: Block C, Court 15, Rivers State High Court Complex, Port Harcourt.
“Please take note that the Commission will conclude sitting on the 21st November 2024.
At the commission’s sitting on Tuesday 19 November,2024, the FCT minister was conspicuously absent, neither did he send any legal representation.
The commission waited till about 11.30am before adjourning as none of the persons expected to appear honored the invitation.
Similar thing happened on Monday 18 November 2024 slated for the appearance of former local government chairmen who served under Wike’s administration as none of them honored the invitation of the commission.
It would be recalled that the FCT minister had dismissed the commission of inquiry as a mere waste of resources saying since the State Government knows those who perpetrated the violence on October 7, 2024, it should have gone ahead to arrest them instead of constituting an inquiry.
