NEWISSUES
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Sokoto State Judicial Commission of Inquiry that was constituted to investigate the government of former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal since October 2023 has ended it's public hearing on Thursday.
Making his presentation before the commission, Lead counsel to the Commission Hassan Liman (SAN) who led others said, the whole process was not initiated to molest, embarrass or disparage his personality, rather, to simply investigate his stewardship which is an acceptable practice.
But worried by the non appearance of the former governor to respond as witness in some of the memos, the Commission's Counsel, Liman (SAN) said,”May I urge with respect that memos number 002, 003, 004,005, 007,008, 009, 010 in which the former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is listed as witness that was adjourned to the 14th, 15th and 16th of January, 2025 be bound by whatever will be the finding of the commission”.
While saying that the commission is simply an inquiry that does not involve any prosecution or punishment, Liman said no witness is bound by the law to appear before it to testify.
“As the commission is a simple inquiry of fact finding of what happened to certain properties of Sokoto State when Aminu Waziri Tambuwal held sway as the governor between 2015 to 2023
‘Out of respect for the former governor, it was agreed here including the presence of his counsels, I.O Suleiman, SAN, Malam Nuhu Adamu, F.M Mada, and A. Abdulrahaman
that all witnesses that are invited should come and testify first before former governor Tambuwal's turn and to ensure that many adjournments have been taken for him to come and testify yet he never showed up”.
“”I therefore urged this commission that having given ample opportunity to the witness number 1, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to appear and testify before it and having been represented by counsels throughout the proceedings, it shows clearly that he has no interest in coming to testify,
“”Finally, I am urging this honourable commission to bring to an end it's siting by declaring formerly and closing the public hearing of all inquiry so that it can retire, write it's report and submit same to the government that constituted it””, Liman SAN advised.
Puting up his defense, Barrister Nuhu Adamu who is holding brief for Usman Suleiman (SAN) counsel to witness number 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9 and 10 urged the commission to consider their application for adjournment hence the witness has shown interest to appear before the commission.
He further argued that, the former governor hold the commission in high esteem which explains why his counsel is always available or represented at all sittings of the commission.
Delivering their short judgment after hearing from all counsels on ground, the chairman of the commission, Justice Mu'azu Pindiga said having spent over a year on the assignment with several adjournment s, the commission can no longer grant further adjournment.
Continuing, Justice Pindiga said despite section 7(d) of the commission's establishment provisions empowers the commission to order an arrest of anybody who refuses to honour it's invitation, they have however chose not to do so.
Pindiga further said, “”from the inception, the commission agreed to give former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal time to come and testify after all witnesses. And it has been granting series of adjournments to accommodate his presence but can no longer grant any further””.
“”The Commission therefore gives 14 days to any witness to submits his/her written response in respect of any memo adding such shall be replied within 10 days as the Commissions closes it's sitting””, Justice Pindiga noted.
