A former Commissioner of Transport in Rivers State, Mr. George Tolofari, has withdrawn a suit he filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking restraining orders against members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Nyesom Wike to probe the immediate past administration of Rotimi Amaechi.

Tolofari’s lawyer, Mr. R.E Wanogho, did not give explanation for withdrawing the suit barely 24 hours after it was filed.

A copy of the originating summons sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday showed that it was filed on Tuesday.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola on Wednesday struck out the case immediately after Wanogho orally applied for its withdrawal.

The plaintiff through the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/736/2015, had sought among his eight prayers, a declaration that the constitution of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice George Omereji, “to investigate allegations bordering on the commission of crime by the immediate past administration in Rivers State” was unconstitutional, null and void and amounted to the breach of his fundamental rights to fear hearing.

He sought an order of stay of further proceedings of the panel and another one setting aside the proceedings so far.

He also asked the court to make an order restraining the panel from “issuing or executing any summons or warrant of arrest” against him and another order restraining the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, from executing “any warrant of arrest or summons” issued by the panel.

Apart from Justice Omereji, other defendants to the suit are members of the panel – Mrs. Florence Fiberesima, Dr. Zacheaus Adango, Dr. Edith Chukwu, Chief Monday Ekekenta, Rev. Canon Usifo, and Ignatius Piegbara.

The other defendants are Governor Wike, the Attorney-General of the state and the Inspector-General of Police.

The former commissioner had said part of the targets of the investigation by that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry was the Mono-rail project being executed by the state Ministry of Transport which he headed under the Amaechi Administration.

He stated that the probe panel had threatened to issue summons and warrant of arrest against him at his Abuja residence over alleged commission of crime.

He insisted that the panel lacked the power to investigate the allegation of commission of crime, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was already investigating the allegation.

"Exciting news! TheNigeriaLawyer is now on WhatsApp Channels 🚀 Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest legal insights!" Click here! ....................................................................................................................... Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and other digital content on this website, in whole or in part, without express and written permission from TheNigeriaLawyer, is strictly prohibited _________________________________________________________________ [Register Now] ILA Nigeria Branch Marks 10 Years With Infrastructure Financing As Theme For 7th Annual Conference The International Law Association - Nigeria Branch 7th annual conference on public-private partnerships for sustainable infrastructure financing, April 4-5 in Abuja. Details: https://ilanigeria.org.ng/conference _________________________________________________________________

NIALS' Compendia Series: Your One-Stop Solution For Navigating Nigerian Laws (2004-2023)

Email: info@nials.edu.ng, tugomak@yahoo.co.uk, Contact: For Inquiry and information, kindly contact, NIALS Director of Marketing: +2348074128732, +2348100363602.