By Tony Edike

ENUGU — Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, yesterday, inaugurated a seven-man panel to investigate allegations against the embattled Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, by the state House of Assembly.

They are to start sitting today.
The panel inaugurated at the State High Court Complex in Enugu has Mr. Franklyn Uche Oraeke as Chairman.
Other members are Pastor Uluakanwa Okoh, Elder Nnamdi Martin Onyenwuru, Mr. Marcel Eze, Mrs. Praise Anyim, Aroh Perfectis and Dr. Anthony Iguh.

In his inaugural address, the Chief Judge said he was under a constitutional obligation to inaugurate the panel to investigate the allegations leveled against the deputy governor, pointing out that the chairman and members of the panel had been very carefully chosen to ensure there were no cleavages that could hinder the effective and impartial performance of the functions they were assigned to perform.

“I am under a constitutional obligation to inaugurate this panel to investigate the allegations leveled against the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi.
“I must pause here to point out that the Chairman and members of this panel have been very carefully chosen to ensure that there are no cleavages that could hinder the effective and impartial performance of the functions they are about to perform,” Justice Umezulike said.

He told the chairman and members of the panel that “the glue that holds you together is your uncommon integrity and non-partisanship in political activities; with this coalescence of chemistry and symmetry I am entitled to hope that you will discharge your functions without fear or favour.”