The judicial commission of inquiry set up to probe
the killings of security officers in Alakyo village in Nasarawa state, north
central Nigeria, has begun sitting but its legality has been called to question.
Counsel to the Ombatse militia,
accused of carrying out the killings, Zakaria Alumaga, has challenged the
powers of the commission to probe it.
Mr Alumaga faulted the
leadership of the commission which was inaugurated in May, based on the penal
code which was used to outlaw the group.
He raised a preliminary
objection to enable the commission decide “whether it was competent to
adjudicate on some of the provisions contained in its terms of reference as
regards the alleged proscription of the group by the Nasarawa state Government
in 2012.”
But the state government has
dismissed the objection as the State Attorney General and Commissioner of
Justice, Innocent Lagi, said “the commission is all about fact finding and not
a Commission for legal interpretations.”
He added that the commission
will not be deterred by dissenting voices to its duties and it will continue
with its mandate.
The Nigeria Police is
expected to make its presentation on August 6th, the State Security Service
will make its presentation on August 14thand the Nasarawa state government will
be heard on August 15th.
Dozens of police officers
were ambushed and allegedly massacred by suspected members of the Ombatse
Militia Group in Alakyo village, on May 7.
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