How Governor Lalong Committed A Blunder As He Haphazardly Inaugurated The Commission Of Inquiry Without Oath Of Office

Yakubu Busari

Governor Simon Lalong today made big blunder when during the inauguration ceremony for the members of the judicial commission of inquiry for the probe of the past eight year rule of former Governor Jonah Jang.

The Governor haphazardly inaugurated the Commissions of inquiry without asking the Chairman of the occasion to take oath of office, which should be the normal procedure.

However, the governor confusedly after ending his speech instructed that the chairman of the Commission to come to the podium and deliver his acceptance speech, when he has not taken oath of office.

It was then that the Chairman of the Commission of inquiry, Justice Stephen Adah JCA reminded the Governor that he has to be sworn-in before delivering his acceptance speech a situation which put a hold on the procedure for almost 45minutes.

Surprisingly there was no Bible or Koran provided for, as Governor Lalong has to appeal for religious leaders to bring their Koran or Bible for the official swearing.

One of the government spokesmen who invited the media in a closed door meeting begged that such reports should be used to criticize the government, owning to the challenge of the present government.

He disclosed that the commission of inquiry set up by Governor Simon Lalong is review the administration of neither former governor of the State Jonah jang and not to persecute nor witch-hunt anybody.

Governor Lalong stressed that the commission is to aid government to unravel issues that might be hidden to guarantee the prosperity of the people of the state.

Speaking during the  inauguration of the six member Probe panel headed by Hon. Justice Stephen Jonah Adah, Gov. Lalong said;  “the APC Rescue Government in the State under my leadership, has not failed to repeatedly reiterate our desire to ensure that the past administration, is made to give public account of its stewardship in the State.

“This became a necessity, which out of duty and a good conscience we cannot afford to ignore, given the magnitude of information at our disposal; beginning from the submission of the transition committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Sonni Gwanle Tyoden and the various ministerial verification committees, as well the preliminary audit and accounts reconciliation committee information before government, which revealed huge debts inherited from the last administration.

“This past one year facts are daily denied, twisted and distorted; This is indeed worrisome. It is the belief of my administration that only after facts are publicly obtained and tested, will the truth be brought to bear on the issues agitating the minds of Patriotic Plateau People, hence the new line of action.

“Further to this is the fact that our citizens, acting on the strength of the mandate given to us, have repeatedly called out for a review of the activities of the past administration, on the strength of what we have placed in public domain, in our bid to get our people understand the level of challenges we are confronted with.

“As a responsible government, we cannot afford to ignore this deafening call, which for all intent and purpose are justified.

“I must state, like I have done in my several addresses to the State, that what seemed a delayed action concerning the constitution of a Commission of Inquiry, is certainly not a delay, but a deliberate line of action which takes cognisance of the fact that investigations by Anti – Graft Agencies are process driven, and that the bureaucratic compilation of government documents and facts that will be pleaded before any Judicial Commission, must follow the process of law, in line with whatever legal relationship that Government would have entered into with any Person, Group, Institution or Agency of Government.

Having done this, we are now set to begin a process that would allow every Plateau person, the opportunity to objectively assess how the commonwealth of our State and the affairs of Government were administered.

“Make no mistake, our desire to right wrongs and improve on the state of Governance, is a function of our review of the past, assessment of the present, and a plan for the future. We are sure that the combination of hindsight, insight and foresight will take us to our destination”.

He reads the terms of reference to include,  “to ascertain all financial transactions, done or entered into by the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria or through any of its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), or official acting in its name from the 29th day of May 2007 to 29th May 2015 shall be looked into.”

He said the six-member panel is also mandated to establish how much accrued to the state, and how much was expended.

Other mandates of the panel according to the statement incudes:

“To ascertain the total amount paid by the Government of Plateau State as salaries and allowances of serving and retired State Civil Servants, Local Government Employees and Political Appointees from 29th May 2007 to 29th May 2015.”

“To ascertain and establish all financial allocations, funds, grants or monetary interventions and revenues which accrued to or in the name of the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria. Departments, Agencies (MDAs), Officials or Agents from the Federal Government of Nigeria or any International Institutions or Donor Agencies from 29th May 2007 to 29th May 2015.

“To ascertain and establish all loans granted to or obtained by the Government of Plateau State of Nigeria through any of its Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and the purpose for which such loans were obtained and whether the loans were used for such purpose.”

Meanwhile, members of the commission include; Justice Stephen Adah JCA,(Chairman)

Prof. Mrs. Bibiana Bawa, (Member) Barr. Aliyu Sangei (Member),

Prof. Ekoja B. Ekoja(Member)

Engr. Simon Onu Agamah (Member) while

Alhaji Sani Yahaya Mavo, permanent secretary Ministry of finance is to serve as Secretary to the Commission.

Responding after the oath of allegiance, chairman of the panel, Justice Stephen Adah JCA promised to keep to the terms of reference and the three months’ time allotted to the commission for inquiry.

He therefore called on the public to as a matter of urgency file in their memoranda.