By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT— THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has dragged the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and others before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, praying the court to declare as unconstitutional, the recently constituted Commission of Inquiry into politically motivated killings in the state.
The party is also asking the court to declare that by virtue of the provisions of section 214 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, and section 4 of the Police Act, the power to investigate allegations of crime, including inquiring into politically motivated killings in Rivers State, is vested in the Police
Respondents in the suit are the Chairman of the commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, Governor Amaechi, the state Attorney General, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in the state and members of the panel.
The party is further asking the court to restrain the commission or its members from investigating any alleged politically motivated killings, arguing that it was the responsibility of the Police to do so.
Legal Adviser to the party, Mr Benjamin Eke, in the suit, is further contending that Prof. Odinkalu was not fit to serve as chairman of the panel because he already had foreknowledge of the subject matter of the purported inquiry having reportedly heard allegations and counter allegations of the various parties in the state relating to political violence and killings in his capacity as Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.
“He cannot come to the task of presiding as Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry in this case with neutrality and impartiality necessary as an arbiter,” he argued.
According to Eke, Sir Samuel Egbe, a member of the panel, is not fit to be a member of the commission because he was allegedly appointed Permanent Secretary in the state civil service by Governor Amaechi.
It will be recalled that the panel constituted by Governor Amaechi to look into politically related killings in the state is expected to commence sitting next week.