INVESTIGATION ON THE COLLAPSED 7-STOREY BUILDING IN RIVERS STATE BY GOVERNOR WIKE

COLLAPSED 7-STOREY BUILDING: 

GOVERNOR WIKE INAUGURATES JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has inaugurated the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Collapsed 7-Storey at Woji road in New GRA, Port Harcourt. 

The governor also inaugurated the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the management and affairs of Integrated Medical Industries Limited (Auto Disable Syringe) .

The governor performed the inauguration/swearing of the two Judicial Commissions of Inquiry  on Tuesday at the Government House Port Harcourt.

Governor Wike charged the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Collapsed 7-Storey to identify the owner of the building and the holder of the certificate of occupancy. 

He charged them: "To ascertain/identify the owner, developer and/or holder of the certificate of occupancy over and in respect of all that piece or parcel of land situate and lying at 119 Woji Road, (Plot 80), GRA Phase 2, Port Harcourt. 

"Ascertain whether the construction of the Seven--Storey Building on the said 119 Woji Road is covered by any valid  or approved building plan and/or whether requisite approvals were issued by the appropriate Ministry or agency of the Rivers State Government  prior to the commencement of construction ".

The governor also charged the Commission of Inquiry to ascertain whether the architectural, engineering and structural designs of the said building were undertaken by competent and licensed experts in the relevant fields.

He further charged the commission to ascertain  whether appropriate/necessary tests including  soil tests were carried out to ascertain the suitability of the site for construction of a building of that height.

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry is also charged with the responsibility of finding out the quality of materials used and also ascertain the number of persons that were killed or injured and the identities of such persons. 

For the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the affairs of Integrated Medical Industries Limited, Governor Wike charged the commission  to ascertain how much the Rivers State Government has invested in the company  

The commission is to ascertain if funds and assets of Integrated Medical Industries Limited were misappropriated during the period.

The governor also charged them to identify the persons who sold or converted the properties of Integrated Medical Industries Limited. 

Responding, Chairman of The Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Collapsed 7-Storey building in Port Harcourt, Justice Adolphus Enebeli assured the governor that the commission  will execute her assignment with the needed timeliness and in line with the law.

He said that they will not disappoint  the Government and people of Rivers State because  the assignment  touches on Wednesday  the essence of humanity. 

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the affairs of the Integrated Medical Industries Limited, Justice Douye  Green thanked the governor  for the privilege to serve, noting that commission will work in accordance  with the Terms of Reference.

It will be recalled that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike pledged to set up a commission of inquiry  to investigate the Collapsed 7-Storey after visiting  the site alongside his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike. 

Simeon Nwakaudu,

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
Published by: Comrade Thankgod Uche Nwokugha

4th December, 2018.