The Chairman of the judicial Commission of Inquiry on police brutality and other related offences in Imo state, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe, has expressed concern over the lack of interest shown by the people to its investigation.
Speaking at the inaugural sitting of the panel in Owerri, Justice Duruoha-Igwe, said that so far only two persons have presented petitions to the commission.
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She wondered how people could get justice if they failed to present their petitions.
She said, “We have since published our call for petitions and memoranda. Our registry is now open for business. We hope that aggrieved citizens of our state will avail themselves of this opportunity to ventilate their grievances. Ours is investigative, remedial and advisory in nature, it’s not a court.
“Nobody is on trial, but we intend to unravel what transpired between the police and the suspects. In the same vein, it’s also our intention to find out the cause of the ill-will between the officers of the law and the citizens of the country. Not to do so will not bring a permanent solution.”
The Archbishop of Owerri, Anthony Obinna, lamented that the apathy shown by the people to the commission stemmed from the fact that people have lost trust in government.
Obinna said people of the South East region have suffered the worst form of brutality in the hands of security agents and yet the government appeared to do nothing about it.
Obinna, who was represented by Rev Fr. (Dr.) Kevin Ugoamadi, said that though the people have faith and confidence on the government to protect them, but the government had failed in all ramifications to enjoy the trust and confidence of the people.
