A State High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ruled against the attempt by the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, to stop the investigation of the financial activities of his administration by a judicial commission of inquiry.
Justice Simeon Amadi of the Rivers State High Court, on Thursday, gave the present administration the green light to probe its predecessor.
The present governor of the state, Nyesom Wike had instituted a judicial commission to investigate the alleged sale of key state assets and finances of the state by the former governor.
The governor established the commission under the authority of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, CAP 30 Laws of Rivers State, but his predecessor approached the court to stop the investigation.
Delivering judgment on suit number PHC/187/15, Justice Amadi declared that the commission of inquiry was instituted to investigate the actions of the Amaechi led administration as they impacted the lives of the people of the state, and not the person of the former governor himself.
He ruled that Governor Wike was empowered by law to establish the judicial commission of inquiry to investigate previous actions of government and there was no law preventing a state government from finding out how its resources were used.
Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Emma Aguma, said the ruling had proved that a claimant cannot jump to court to stop the legitimate business of a judicial commission of inquiry.
"What happened today is that the judge delivered judgment in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." he said. "It was also in accord with the dispensation of good governance of the people.
“It has protected the rights of the governed to know what has happened to their common wealth. To that extent, I wish to commend the judgment of His Lordship.
“Going forward, we expect the commission to sit, to be fair and make recommendations to government at the appropriate time." he said.
Reacting to the judgement however, counsel to the former governor, Mrs Winifred Enyinnaya, said that her client would appeal against the judgment.
“Judgment has been entered, but we believe this is not the last court. There are still Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. As it stands, we are going to file our processes and we are going to challenge the judgment of the High Court." she said.
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