Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has inaugurated a nine-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the deaths of 37 individuals who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Niger State Command. The commission was formally established at the Government House in Minna on Tuesday, following the swearing-in of its members by Justice Muhammad S.A. Muhammad of the Niger State High Court, who serves as the commission’s chairman.
During the inauguration, Governor Bago urged the newly appointed members to justify the confidence placed in them by the state government and the people of Niger State. He specified that the commission has a four-week deadline to complete its assignment and submit its findings, emphasizing the urgency of the investigation in the wake of the incident.
Nasir Mu’azu, the Niger State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, stated that the governor was legally empowered to establish the commission under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Tribunal of Inquiry Act, and Section 2 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. 27, Laws of Niger State, 1989. Mu’azu noted that the inquiry was launched in response to public concern over the deaths, clarifying that the alleged involvement of the deceased in illegal mining did not diminish their fundamental rights or the state’s obligation to protect their lives while in custody.
The Attorney-General further clarified the scope of the inquiry, stating that the commission would not investigate the administrative conduct of NSCDC personnel or determine disciplinary measures against officers. Instead, its mandate is focused on investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths within the areas covered by the powers of the Niger State Government.
The terms of reference for the commission include examining the circumstances of the arrests and the legality of the detention of the 37 individuals. The panel is also tasked with reviewing the conditions and treatment of the victims while in custody, as well as the specific circumstances leading to their deaths. Additionally, the commission will consider medical and forensic evidence, assess the responsibility and accountability of relevant officers, and provide general findings and recommendations.
Chaired by Justice Muhammad S.A. Muhammad, the nine-member panel includes a diverse group of legal, administrative, and community representatives. Other members include Mohammed Ibrahim Ndamitso, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Minna Branch; Dr. Joseph Kolo, Permanent Secretary of the Public Service; Chief Magistrate Hafsat Abdullahi; and Prof. Danladi Yunusa Hakimi, representing the Minna Emirate.
Completing the commission are Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Musa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mineral Resources; Deputy Commissioner of Police Habila Daniel; Nana Hauwa Isah, representing civil society; and Babangida Sani Muj, representing the mining sector.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
