Set up judicial inquiry over Ishielu killings, Ohakim tells Umahi

Former Imo State governor Dr. Ikedi Ohakim has suggested that the only way to unravel what happened in respect of the recent mayhem in Ishielu, Ebonyi state, which reportedly claimed 17 lives, is to commission a judicial panel of inquiry into the matter.

Ohakim stated this in his condolence letter to Ebonyi state governor, Chief Dave Umahi. He said: “There are many unanswered questions surrounding this tragedy that will be better answered, not in a prosecutorial or adversarial setting but in a disinterested atmosphere inherent in a Judicial Commission of Inquiry.”

The former governor consequently urged Umahi to constitute a judicial panel, adding that “this tragedy triggered profound anger and recriminations from several quarters, particularly from Ndigbo, as an ethnic group, thus escalating it from an ordinary law enforcement issue to a matter that concerns the entire Igbo nation.

He urged the governor to rise to the occasion and exercise his authority under pertinent State laws.

“Judicial panel is the only fair and credible way to determine who was truly liable and to what extent, and additionally, help to ensure that such tragic incident will not repeat itself in Ebonyi State or even Igboland.”