The Abia State House of Assembly yesterday during its plenary directed its committee on Public Petitions to investigate issues surrounding the murder of Miss Vivian Ocheze, a crane operator by a Chinese expatriate at the Inner Galaxy Steel Company Ukwa West on 20th May and others who lost their lives due to the incident and report back to it for further Legislative actions.
The directive followed a matter of Urgent Public Importance presented by Hon. Godwin Adiele, Member representing Ukwa west Constituency.Hon. Adiele who condemned the incident which he termed “Barbaric Massacre” and “slaughtering” of Miss Ocheze which later resulted to the stabbing to death of another indigene of the community, Mr Chimaobi Dikeji on the 21st of May 2024, said Ukwa people are good in hospitality and wondered why they are being maltreated by the management of Inner galaxy Steel Company Ltd.
Hon. Adiele prayed the House to mandate the State Government to step further action to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are properly prosecuted and the families of the deceased fully compensated.
The law maker also urge the Honourable House to consider the plights of over one thousand Nigerian workers in the Company and ensure that the Company takes adequate steps by improving their welfare adding that a safe working environment for them is provided among other prayers.
The motion generated much reactions from members of the house who frowned and condemned the act in totality while the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa granted his prayers and instituted an adhoc Committee to investigate the issues surrounding the death of late crane operator and other activities going on in the Steel Company.
In a related development, the Speaker commiserated with the Nigerian Army on the loss of their 5 Personnel recently in the State. He however condemned the maltreatment and Harrasment of innocent Abians in retaliation around the area and urged the Security personnel to exercise restraint in the way and manner they are handling their investigation.
The House after an extensive deliberations resolved to write to the Nigerian Army to forestall further harassment of innocent citizens and to be more professional at the checkpoints in the State.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emeruwa who had earlier announced the Ractification of the Re-appointment of the Mayors and Deputy Mayors of the 17 LGAs of Abia State which was contained in a letter from the Governor Dr. Alex Otti committed same to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for further legislative actions and to revert back to the house during the next sitting.
The House also entertained a petition from the member representing Umunneochi State Constituency, Hon. Ume Mattias Nwachi from Eluama Umuchieze Development Union which centered on the Instigation of Community Crisis, Sabotage of the Community and the State by one Osita Okorocha and his cohorts.
He prayed the house to ensure the Peaceful coexistence of the community with a view to bringing back foreign investors to the Community.
The Petition was committed to the House Committee on Public Petition to revert back to the house within 6 daysThe Report of the Joint Committees on Security and Boundary, Public Petitions & Judiciary on H.A.B 13: A Bill for a Law to Establish The Abia State Home Land Security Agency to Assist and Support the Federal Law Enforcement Agencies in Maintaining Law and Order in the State and other related purposes was presented during the plenary.
The report was presented by the Deputy Speaker of the house who doubles as the Chairman of the House Committee on Boundary and Security Matters.
The joint committees in its recommendation urged the house to give the Bill an accelerated passage while the house adopted the report as its working document and committed same to its committee on the whole for consideration.
The House adjourned to reconvene on Tuesday 11th May, 2024
