Uyo Church Collapse: Panel Calls for Memorandum from Public

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By; Patrick Titus, Uyo.
Commission of Inquiry into the collapse of the Reigners’ Bible Church building along Uyo Village Road in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has called for memorandum from members of the public to enable it discharge its mandate creditably.
The Commission was set up by the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel on December 15, 2016 to investigate the root cause(s) that led to the collapse of that building and the attendant loss of lives which occurred on December 10, 2016 during the Bishopric Ordination of the Church’s founder, Apostle Akan Weeks.
Chairman of the Commission, Justice Umoekoyo Essang (Rtd) who made the call during the inaugural sitting of the panel held at judicial headquarters, Uyo on Wednesday said that the commission would rely on the evidence/oral or documentary made available to it by reputable associations and individuals who have credible and useful evidence to proffer.
According to Justice Essang these associations include; Engineers, Architects, Builders, Surveyors and Soil Scientists while individuals are also encouraged to come forward and offer oral evidence with or without memorandum.
Justice Essang who described the mandate before the commission as an arduous task, therefore, solicited maximum cooperation from all and sundry that have anything to do with construction of buildings, especially public buildings to enable it accomplish task.
The Chairman, who restated the commitment of members to come up with a just recommendation to the state government, thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for entrusting the assignment into their hands.
The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko, Esq. in a message at the sitting urged members of the commission not to leave any stone unturned in justifying the very reason that the commission was set up.
He said that the setting up of the commission came at a critical time in the history of the state, therefore, they must come up with a product that would be a pointer to both government and public concern in order to forestall future occurrence of such happening in the state and beyond.
Nwoko who represented Governor Emmanuel said that the commission was set up in pursuant to Section 5 of Commission of Inquiry Law of the State, and urged members of the public to be opened in their presentations to enable the commission achieve the mandate that will be justifiable in law anywhere in the world.
At the inaugural sitting were, State Chief Judge, Justice Stephen Okon, NMA Chairman, Dr. Aniekeme Uwa, Uyo NBA Chairman, Bar. Aniekan Akpan and commissioners for finance and health, NUJ Chairman, Elder Patrick Albert, among others.
The Commission adjourned the sitting January 3, 2017 while dateline for submission memorandum/oral or documentary to the commission is January 4, 2017 at the state ministry of justice or directly to the commission.

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