Before:
1. Bar. Franklyn Uche Oraekeiyi.
2. Bar. Maxwell Ebele Eze.
3. Bar. Anthony I. Iguh.
4. Bar. (Pastor) Fabian Uluakanwa Oko. Member
5. Perfectus Okwuchukwu Aroh. Member
6. Mr. Martin Onyemuru.
7. Mrs. Mercy Praise Anyim.
Chief Chris Aghanwa appears with Chief Ogochukwu Onyekwuluje, Mr. Peter Eze, J. Onah, Osinachi Nwoye, C.K. Ogbonnaya, Kevin Eyah, and Helen Udezue (Mrs) for the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Sunday Onyebuchi. Chief Aghanwa apologises for the absence of the Deputy Governor. He says Mr. Eze will take over from him.
Mr. Eze says that after the incident of yesterday in the Panel they tendered a medical certificate as to the state of health of the Deputy Governor. Eze says he was not allowed to see the Deputy Governor yesterday but that he insisted that he had to see him today and saw him this morning and had a brief discussion with him.
Says that the medical report tendered yesterday signed by Dr. Anisiuba, a consultant physician and cardiologist with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, show that the Deputy Governor has low blood pressure and from what he saw this morning it is clear that he will be unable to appear before the Panel today. Says the Panel would recall that the Deputy Governor had given evidence for more than two hours yesterday and is still willing to continue.
Eze says he renews their application that this matter be adjourned to Monday 18 August 2014 to enable the Deputy Governor appear and continue with his evidence. Says that the Deputy Governor is their last witness and if he comes on Monday they would finish and close their case. Says if the Deputy Governor is unable to come on Monday they would reassess their position.
Ikeyi responds to the application for adjournment and says he shares the sentiment of Mr. Eze and that of the Deputy Governor. Says yesterday most of them were overcome with emotion and concern on behalf of the Deputy Governor’s health. Says they are still concerned with his health.
Ikeyi says however that His Excellency is also a public servant in the public service of the Government of Enugu State. Says that this investigative proceedings is also a proceedings of Enugu State of Nigeria. In the event, our humble opinion or submission is that on the question of the health of the Deputy Governor of Enugu State being in the public service of the Government Enugu State, a formal medical report issued by a facility of Enugu State Government should guide the Panel in forming a view on the matter.
Says this is in due respect to the competence and objectivity of the cardiologist Dr. B.C. Anisiuba who has issued the medical report upon which the Panel has been adjourned in relation to the proceedings of the Panel. Says although Dr. Anisiuba works in the medical facility of UNTH he did not issue the report as a report from that facility. Says assuming he did, UNTH is not a hospital under the Enugu State Government.
Ikeyi applies that a cardiologist or other specialist physician in relevant field of medicine from Enugu State University Teaching Hospital or Park Lane Teaching Hospital be granted access to the Deputy Governor for the purpose of evaluating his state of health and issue a formal report to this Panel. Says that can be done today and they come back tomorrow to see the report instead of Monday.
Eze replies and says the implication of what Ikeyi has said is that a staff of Enugu State Government must go only to Enugu State Hospital for treatment. Says Dr. Anisiuba is about the best cardiologist in town. Eze informs the Panel that when the incident occurred yesterday the first doctor that was called is Dr. Ogbonna from the Government House but he declined to see the Deputy Governor. He further submits that besides, Monday is not too far considering that the Panel has three months under section 188(7) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to carry out this investigation and that if the Deputy Governor is able to come on Monday he is their last witness and that they will close their case.
PANEL: Given the application by counsel for the Deputy Governor that this proceedings be adjourned till Monday 18 August 2014 and the submissions of counsel for the House of Assembly on the need for a formal report from a doctor from an Enugu StateGovernment owned Hospital, The Deputy Governor has nothing to lose if there is a second opinion on the issue.
This Panel therefore orders that another doctor from the hospital of Enugu State Government be given access to the Deputy Governor to evaluate his state of health and report to the Panel. Proceedings are adjourned till tomorrow 15 August 2014 to receive the formal medical report.
