Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ignored an invitation to appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry established by the Rivers State Government.
The commission, tasked with investigating the destruction of property, arson, and killings in various local government areas of Rivers State, had summoned the former governor to clarify critical issues related to its mandate.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara inaugurated the seven-member panel, led by Justice Ibiwengi Minakiri, in early October.
The commission was initially given a one-month deadline to complete its work, focusing on incidents that have raised public concern across the state.
Wike was formally summoned to appear on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, through a courier service and a public notice published in newspapers. Despite these efforts, he failed to honor the invitation.
Justice Minakiri, addressing the panel’s final session, expressed disappointment over Wike’s absence, stating that the day had been set aside exclusively for his testimony.
“Today’s sitting was actually for the former Governor of Rivers State to appear before this commission to straighten some points that we needed to know. That is just the only reason we are sitting today. Otherwise, our sitting would have ended yesterday,” Minakiri stated.
The panel chair added that they had hoped Wike would make an appearance but decided to conclude their proceedings in his absence.
“We have given some [time],” she remarked. “So today will mark the last day we are sitting. As we rise today, that brings us to the end of the sitting of this Commission, except there is a direction from His Excellency to do otherwise as permitted by the law under which we are operating.”
The situation was compounded by the absence of other key invitees. On Monday, November 18, the commission had summoned several individuals, including Chief Tony Okocha, Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, and former chairpersons of Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor, Ahoada West, and Eleme local governments. However, none of them appeared before the commission or sent legal representatives.
“You can see from the way the hall is looking there is actually no strange face here. There is nobody here. So, in the absence of all that, we made publications inviting people we want to hear from alongside His Excellency (Nyesom Wike). However, I have noticed that there’s nobody here. So that brings us to the end of the sitting,” Justice Minakiri said, highlighting the lack of cooperation from those summoned.
Despite these setbacks, Minakiri assured the public that the commission would finalize and submit its report to the Rivers State Government.
She expressed hope that the findings would address the issues that have plagued the state and benefit its citizens.
“So I want to thank every one of you who has been coming, and we have those who just came in today, and to tell you that you have made our job easy for us. Your presence encouraged us all through our sittings. We do hope that at the end of the day, whatever comes up after this sitting will indeed be to the benefit of Rivers State, the entirety of Rivers State, and the people of Rivers State. So I want to say thank you so much for your presence,” she stressed.
It was learnt that the panel’s hearings ended with conspicuous absences, notably those of Wike and his close ally Tony Okocha.
The unwillingness of key figures to engage with the commission may cast a shadow on efforts to resolve the contentious issues that have affected several local government areas in Rivers State.
