Victims of the November 2010 flood in Ogun State on Thursday dragged the former governor of the state, Gbenga Daniel, and his successor, Ibikunle Amosun, before the state’s truth commission sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta.
The petitioners, who approached the commission through the African for Human Right International (AfriRight), accused Daniel of short-changing them in the payment of N740 million meant for compensation.
AfriRight also accused Amosun of compounding the situation by denying the victims their “token relief monies.”
The commission, set up by Amosun on 14 September, was to investigate the death, disappearance of persons and alleged illegal dealings of government officials between January 2003 and May 2011.
NAN recalls that the commission had its inaugural sitting on 30 November and adjourned till 8 December to hear various petitions before it.
But at the commission’s hearing on Thursday, Daniel’s counsel, Mr Yemi Oke, told the court that the immediate past governor would not respond to the petition against him.
Oke argued that the past governor had filed a suit challenging the competence of the commission at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan.
He said that his appearance was not to defend Daniel as a counsel, but to watch his client’s brief.
“My appearance is not to defend Daniel because he did not believe in the legality of this commission and as such, I am here in protest appearance.
“The matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction to determine the competence of this commission; until the court makes a pronouncement on the matter, we shall not be represented legally,” he said.
In his response, the Chairman of the commission, Justice P.O. Aderemi, said the matter concerning whether the commission could go on had been resolved at the inaugural sitting on 30 November.
He ruled that the matter would go on as scheduled and, thereafter, took the appearance of counsel to the commission, Mr Olubunmi Koleowo, and that of others.
The commission then adjourned till 9 January for definite hearing, because of lack of proof of service on Amosun.
“ We must see proof of service before any case can go on, and I am sure you all know that,” Aderemi said.

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