Enugu State Chief Judge Justice Innocent Umezulike has inaugurated a 7-man panel to investigate the allegations leveled against the Deputy Governor of Enugu State Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi
The members of the panel inaugurated on Tuesday are Mr Uche Franklin Oraekeyi, as the chairman, Mrs. Praise Mercy Anyim, Aroh Okwuchukwu Perfectious, Pastor Uluakanwa Oko, Elder Nnamdi Marthin Onyenwuru, Barr. Marcel Ebele Eze and Dr. Anthony Iguh.
The CJ who said he is under a constitutional obligation to inaugurate the panel noted that the chairman and members were carefully chosen to ensure that there are no cleavages that could hinder the effective and impartial performance of the functions they are about to perform.
“I must inform you that the glue that hold you together are your uncommon integrity and non-partisanship in political activities. With this coalescence of chemistry and symmetry, I am entitled to hope that you would discharge your functions without fear or favour.
“I need here to remind you that the constitutional or democratic history of Enugu State would never be complete without a chapter of the functions you are about to perform. I therefore urge you to perform this constitutional function in a manner that would elicit commendation rather than condemnation from legal and constitutional historians.
“Your activities during this period will be monitored with a detective eye and so you must conduct yourselves like Caesar’s wife,” he stated.
In his response chairman of the panel Mr Oraekeyi Franklin noted that the panel is not coming to witch hunt anybody but will ensure equity, fairness, justice and neutrality in carrying out the assignment.
He however urged people who will appear before the panel to to understand that it is not a law court but a fact finding panel of enquiry and as such “We shall not allow technicalities to be a cog in the wheel of our proceedings.
“Our proceedings shall be guided by the Rules made by the Enugu House of Assembly pursuant to Section 188(7) of the 1999 constitution as amended.
“Our duty is just to conduct an investigation of the charges handed over to us and make a report of our findings known to the Honourable House of Assembly of Enugu State.”
The chairman announced that the panel will commence sitting today Wednesday 6th2014 at 9: am and urged every person concerned with the business of investigation to accord time a primary place.
Oraekeyi further urged the media to be responsible and professional in the discharge of their duties as it relate to informing the public about the proceedings of the panel.
