Abia State government has inaugurated a seven-man Administrative Panel of Enquiry to investigate the crises that rocked Okon-Aku community Ohafia local government area, which claimed one live with several properties burnt.
The panel which has Justice Kenneth Wosu as Chairman, has the mandate to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crises and is also expected to identify individuals and groups directly or indirectly involved in the escalation of the crises.
Inaugurating the panel on Tuesday at his office, Abia State Commissioner for local government and and chieftaincy affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, charged the members to discharge their duties with diligence.
Nwachukwu said that the crises that erupted in Okon-Aku necessitated the setting up of the Panel.
The terms of reference read in part: “To examine the role of the traditional institutions, youth groups, leadership structures and other stakeholders in the conflict, to review the administrative, socio-economic, cultural and security dimensions of the crisis.
“To recommend measures to ensure lasting peace, harmony, justice and communal cohesion, to recommend sanctions, where appropriate, against individuals, groups or bodies found culpable.”
Nwachukwu, who expressed confidence on the capacity of the members of the panel to perform, thanked them for accepting to serve and urged them to make recommendations
The panel which has 30 days to submit its report to the state government, has Justice Kenneth Wosu, Rtd as Chairman, Navy Commander MacDonald Uba, Rtd, Obinna Chimbuo, Eze Kalu Ogbu, Eze Franklin Nwosu and others as members.
Responding on behalf of other members of the administrative panel of enquiry, the Chairman, Justice Wosu thanked Governor Alex Otti for approving their membership of the panel.
Okon-Aku Violence: Abia govt charges panel to identify root cause, recommend sanctions
