Anambra #EndSARS Panel bars lawyers, applicants from granting press interviews

Retired justice Veronica Umeh presiding over the Anambra State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Extra-Judicial Killings and other Related Matters has  barred lawyers and applicants from  granting press interviews after  the sessions.

Justice Umeh  gave the order on Thursday while entertaining  application by the  former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi represented by his lawyer Mr. Alex  Ejesieme SAN asking the panel to dismiss Chief Bonaventure  Mokwe’s application on his ordeal in the hands of SARS Awkuzu and demolition of his  Upper Class Hotel, Onitsha.

Justice Umeh said ” I don’t want anybody to grant press conference . Last time ,some media reported that I will invite the former governor Peter Obi to appear before panel which I did not make”

Obi  had through his lawyer said that the petition was already pending before Court of Appeal Enugu, saying that the panel allowing the petitioner to go ahead with his addendum would  be subjudiced.

According to him, if the panel goes ahead to grant Mokwe leave to present his addendum, it would amount to abuse of court process. He also urged the panel to dismiss the complain for lack of jurisdiction to entertain the case.

” This   honourable panel lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the complain. The suit filed by  the  complaint in 2014, has  Peter Obi, James Nwafor as the  defenders and it  is still pending before appeal Court Enugu. The substance of the subject matter is a pending litigation before a competent  court  of appeal in Enugu” he said.

According to him, before now there have been serious campaign against my client  Peter Obi on social media and urged the panel to grant his  prayers and dismiss this petition. He  also argued that only the  victims of SARS who has not taken any action in court of competent jurisdiction can be  heard in this panel. He appealed to the panel to stop taking  further addendum in the matter

Objecting to the application, Prof. Umeh Nweke representing Chief Bonaventure Mokwe said  application made by Obi’s lawyer has no leg to stand and should be dismissed. According to him, Obi  is neither a victim of  SARS or a respondent to the petition.

He said the petitioner in this matter cannot pursue his matter without mentioning Obi, since the panel was to unravel the circumstance in the Police brutality.

” I have no impediment at bringing my defendant to justice or to sue him  separately. This is a panel of inquiry into SARS brutality , Police and not Peter Obi. The panel has all necessary power and necessary jurisdiction to entertain the petition. Looking at the rules of this panel rule one pursuant to section 8, the panel is for victims of SARS and other police abuse within Anambra State. Our relief is compensation against SARS and not damages” he said.

He prayed the court to allow his client to complete the addendum and to deny Obi’s application to stop the addendum