By Onyinyechi Amakaulo
The days of sitting for the newly inaugurated Imo State Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Police Brutality may be shortened if what Trumpeta observed at the inaugural sitting of the panel is anything to go by.
At the maiden sitting, the Chairman of the Panel, Justice Duruoha Igwe expressed disappointment over the number of Petitions received from the public thereby forcing her to remark about shutting down if enough complaints were not received after two weeks.
According to her, only two petitions were received despite repeated and wide publications made to intimate residents of the State of the Commission’s demands.
Justice Duruoha Igwe (rtd) on Tuesday in Owerri, the Imo state capital said;
“It is regrettable that in spite of all the efforts toward publicity, only two petitions have been submitted.
I hope that aggrieved citizens of the State would avail themselves the opportunity to ventilate their grievances,
The commission has six weeks within which to conclude its assignment. I urge all concerned to cooperate with us.”
According to her, the Commission will not entertain unnecessary adjournments.
Justice Duruoha-Igwe also said the Panel would determine officers responsible for the brutality, recommend compensation and other remedial measures, where appropriate.
The Commission, which is made up of 16 members, is also expected to identify all those who have made claims of police brutality, investigate them and make appropriate recommendations, including possible compensations and sanctions.
Contributing, the representative of the Archbishop AJV Obinna Rev Fr Nwaugo charged the Commission not to relent in the task given to it.
He also noted that the Commission should not make the general public to lose the little confidence remaining in the minds of people rather they should use the opportunity given to them to prove that people can still trust Government again.
“It’s very unfortunate that people don’t trust government any more, is better for the panel to use this opportunity to restore the confidence of the citizens in the State again” he submitted.
