PORT HARCOURT — MEMBERS of the Ataba community in the Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State have notified the Judicial Commission of Inquiry inaugurated by the state government to look into the cause(s) of the mayhem of Sunday, August 15, in that community, that they would boycott the commission’s proceedings.
In the wake of the Ataba crises, which led to the death of about 50 persons and the destruction of properties running into millions of naira, the Rivers State government had set up a seven-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Peter Agumagu to look into the cause(s) of the crisis.
Members of Ataba community are insisting that a factional leader in the detention must be released for the Ataba community to participate in the commission’s proceedings. They said until that is done, they would not attend the proceedings.
The community members who made their protest known in a letter addressed to Governor Peter Odili and the commission chairman and signed by Chief G.D. Ayachan and Chief U.J.H Offong noted that “while we are willing to assist your commission get to the root of Ataba crisis, we must state most emphatically that your commission’s job will obviously be more difficult than anticipated, in so far as those who must be heard and ought to be heard are denied hearing at your commission’s proceedings.”
They argued that “His Royal Majesty, Benson Mgbowaji Egwenre, the man expected to give evidence in-chief on one side of the Ataba Chieftaincy tussle; Chief E.E. Igbifa, Secretary of Ataba clan council of chiefs, whose evidence will be most crucial to your commission’s job; Chief C.N.T Ogugo, Secretary of Ataba Town Council of Chiefs, whose first son, Mr. Tampa Ogugo, was killed in the attack; Chief A.E. Osot Ogile, treasurer of Ataba clan Council of Chiefs; Chief D.O.S Ituk, Treasurer of Ataba Town Council of Chiefs; Chief M.O.J Anyanya, welfare officer of Ataba clan Council of Chiefs and Mr. Blessing Emmanuel –– a community leader are all languishing in prison custody.”
The community reasoned, “these are very prominent leaders of the Benson's faction in the Ataba chieftaincy dispute. Your commission’s job cannot be complete without their effective participation during the commission’s hearing. Their continued detention, even when the five people detained along with them, have all been released on bail, is causing grave concern to us.
"In this situation, we cannot guarantee our participation in your commission’s proceedings unless something is done urgently to release them on bail, to enable them state our case before your commission. Their release will greatly allay our fears about government intention for the commission.”
