The Panel of inquiry into Ukpo-Abagana-Enugwu-Ukwu-Enugwu-Agidi-Nawfia and Abba community crisis, set up by Anambra State government has concluded and submitted its report to Governor Willie Obiano.
The presentation was made on behalf of the Panel by its chairman, Retired Justice Kalagiene Anigbogu, at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.
While receiving the report of the Panel, Governor Obiano commended them for a detailed account, assuring to expedite action on issuance of government white paper and its timely implementation.
He explained that it took the Panel three years to conclude its hearing and report due to various challenges and assured to implement the
recommendations made by the Panel.
Speaking earlier, Justice Anigbogu explained that they adopted different measures including visit and inspection of sites, interaction, oral interviews, adoption of various documents, maps, interaction with top civil servants, opinion leaders, among others, adding that the report which shouldn’t be made public till the issuance of government white paper, is in two volumes.
While stressing that there were accusations and counter accusations of top government officials and influential persons in the communities involved, Justice Anagbogu advocated increased cordiality between traditional rulers and community members as well as seminars and workshops for town unions to educate them on their different roles.
Justice Anigbogu, who recommended that the office of the Surveyor General of the state should be well funded and mobilized to do survey and demarcate all the local government areas in the state, advised government to take decisive steps to protect government officials sent to communities from being lynched, calling for revision of the Collective Punishment Law of the State, to check impunity inline with modern day reality.
Recall that the panel, set up in August 2016 had the following as members, Mr. Yusuf Isaku, Mr Sule Momodu, Venerable Amaechi Okwuosa, Iyom Josephine Anenih, and Barrister Ugochukwu Abana.
Others are, Mr. Nwabufo Nwankwo, Col. Abdulahi and Archbishop David Ebelechkwu of blessed memory.
They were charged to determine remote and immediate causes of the disputes and advise government.
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