DMGS building collapse: Withdraw 2 members of Panel of Enquiry – Lawyers tell Soludo

Chinedum Treasure

Team of legal practitioners has asked Governor of Anambra state, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to review the panel of enquiry he constituted to review the recent collapse of Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Centenary building.

In a letter sent to the Governor on behalf of the DMGS Old Boys and Diocese on the Niger, the team led by Barr Nnamdi Ibegbu, SAN, urged the governor to withdraw two members of the Panel.

The lawyers named the two members as Prof Akaolisa Ezeagu who chairs the Panel and Engr. Sir Victor Meju, a key member of the panel, alleging they were reported to have made prejudiced comments and publications following the collapse of the building.

They expressed worry that the public and the Diocese may not get fair hearing with both members who had demonstrated manifest bias and unprofessionalism on the matter being members of the Panel.

The lawyers informed the Governor that the duo have acted unprofessionally, expressing doubts that they would give unbiased decision in the panel.

“We urge the Governor, most respectfully to withdraw the two persons from the panel or in the alternative the two persons be allowed to honorably recuse themselves from the panel, so that natural justice, equity, good conscience and fairness shall prevail in the deliberation and report of the panel,” the statement read.

While commending the Governor for setting up the panel to investigate both immediate and remote causes of building collapses in parts of the state, the team expressed confidence that the initiative would assist in ensuring utmost professionalism in the construction sector in the state.

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