The probe panel investigating the allegation of gross misconduct leveled against the Enugu state deputy governor Mr Sunday Onyebuchi has commenced its sitting with restrictions baning journalists from covering the panel’s proceedings, maintaining that the panel shall only allow the members of the Enugu State House of Assembly and the Deputy Governor or their lawyers
The 7-man probe panel which was billed to resume by 9 am was delayed till 10:43 am with words of apology from the chairman, Mr. Oraekeyi Uche Franklin.
The chairman said although the panel members arrived in record time, none of the parties were seen in court, prompting them to resume later than 9 am,”We want to reiterate the point we made yesterday, (Tuesday). We are not a tool for political witch-hunt.
“We will give fair hearing on all the parties to come and prove or defend the allegations as the case may be. Nobody should entertain any fear.
Meanwhile, none of the contending parties had a representation during the sitting.
Barr. Innocent Eze, the Director of Civil Litigation in the Enugu State ministry of justice, who appeared for the state, told the panel that “ordinarily, there is supposed to be evidence of service of notices of this sitting on the parties involved.
“So, I don’t know whether there is proof of service from the records of the panel”.
The panel Chairman said there is no proof of service, stressing that since the issue of service is very fundamental, it had to be tackled appropriately.
The Panel, therefore ordered that “a summon should be served on the Hon. Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly and the Deputy Governor as well as any other witness in the matter”.
It further ordered that if personal service was not possible on the Deputy Governor, a substituted means should be used.
It identified those means to include- pasting the notice at the Deputy Governor’s lodge, at his private residence and at the door of his office.
