Bello receives report on Idris, Wada’s govt probe

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kogi State government to probe the previous administrations in the state between 2003-2016, on Wednesday submitted its report to the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for implementation.

The chairman of the commission, Justice Wada Umar, while submitting the report, recalled that the commission was mandated to investigate all contracts awarded by the two previous governments, determine whether the contracts were executed in line with contract agreements.

It was also mandated to capture the revenue that accrued to the State, trace and recover all monies and properties belonging to the State and look into all cases of maladministration within the period under investigation.

According to Justice Umar, the commission relied on memoranda, summons and public hearings as part of instrument used in the discharge of its assignment.

He said a total of 71 witnesses appeared to give testimonies on the activities of the two previous administrations in the state under probe.

The chairman expressed the hope that when the report is implemented it will help to boost good governance, transparency and accountability in the system.

Receiving the report, the governor said the inquiry was not meant to witch hunt or blackmail any one but an attempt to look into the past and correct the mistakes.

The governor said the state remained largely underdeveloped as a result of the looting of the resources of the state saying that “oday we are looking into the past, I am prepared that the future will also look into the present”.