*To submit report within 3 months

By Francis Igata

ENUGU—Following the recent crisis which had engulfed Alor Uno community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State over allegations of slavery, Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State,has constituted a six-man Administrative Panel of Inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the crisis.

As contained in the terms of reference, the members were charged to investigate and ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the recent crisis in the community; investigate and ascertain the number of persons killed, injured or threatened in connection with the crisis; ascertain properties destroyed, their owners and values of the properties; and to indentify persons, groups or institutions who either by acts of omission or commission were directly or indirectly involved or sponsored the crisis.

They are also to investigate any other matters that may come to the knowledge of the Administrative Panel in the course of the inquiry, not covered by the terms of reference; to make recommendations regarding persons whom the panel finds blameworthy in connection with the crisis and damage to property.

The panel was equally charged to generally make recommendations in the light of its findings on how to avert and /or prevent similar crisis in future and make other recommendations which the panel may consider appropriate in view of its findings.

While inaugurating the panel, the Secretary to the State Government, Elder Gabriel Ajah, who represented the governor in the event, stated that the panel has only three months to submit its report to the State Government.

The chairman of the panel, Mrs. Sylvia Onwubuemeli thanked Governor Ugwuanyi  for finding them worthy to carry out the onerous task. She equally stated that given the caliber of people that make up the panel, the State Government expects quality service and transparency in their discharge of the task.  “I wish to on behalf of other members of this Administrative Panel, thank our governor for finding us worthy to carry out this task. We believe that by choosing the caliber of people here, the governor expects the best from us.

“He expects quality, dedication, transparency and honesty in handling this task. We promise that God being our helper, we are going to carry out this responsibility with fairness. We will do everything within our power to ensure that the truth is found and that our report will be transparent” she said.