By Egufe Yafugborhi
WARRI — The controversy surrounding the alleged assault of the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, on Protocol to the Delta State Government, Mr Simon Mudi, popularly known as Temple, has deepened following the indefinite suspension and court remand of the Commissioner for Works (Highway and Urban Roads), Hon. Izeze Rume Reuben.
The commissioner was suspended by the Delta State Government over alleged links to the July 26 incident at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Conference Centre, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The suspension, which took immediate effect, was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Dr Kingsley Eze Emu.
The state government said the decision was necessary to enable security agencies conduct an unbiased investigation into allegations linking the commissioner to the alleged assault.
The statement read: “The suspension is to enable the Security Agencies carry out an unbiased investigation of allegations associating him with the assault on Temple, at the PTI Center, Effurun, recently.”
The government said the action underscored its commitment to public safety, law and order, stressing that the principle would apply “even when institutions of state are involved.”
The development came as an Effurun High Court reportedly ordered the remand of Izeze following his arraignment by the police in connection with the alleged assault.
The court action has added a judicial dimension to the controversy, with the commissioner facing both administrative suspension and criminal proceedings.
Reacting to the development, human rights lawyer, Omes Ogedegbe, welcomed the investigation but cautioned against treating the remand order as a conviction.
Ogedegbe said it would be wrong to suggest that the investigation was still being facilitated by the suspension, noting that the matter had already culminated in a formal criminal charge before the court.
“It would be foolhardy to suggest that the investigation is still being facilitated by the suspension when the investigation had already culminated in a formal criminal charge before the court,” he said.
He stressed that no individual, regardless of position, was above the law, but added that the rights of an accused person must equally be protected.
According to him, the commissioner was charged in connection with an allegation of attempted murder, stressing that “remand is not a conviction and must never be used as punishment before trial.”
Ogedegbe also cited Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for the presumption of innocence of a person charged with a criminal offence until proved guilty or the person pleads guilty.
He urged the prosecution to justify any continued deprivation of the commissioner’s liberty strictly in accordance with the law.
“My position is simple: Investigate where investigation is required. Charge where there is evidence. Prosecute where a case has been established. But do not punish an accused person before conviction,” he said.
Ogedegbe further stressed that the suspension was an administrative decision and should not be interpreted as evidence of criminal guilt, just as the remand order did not amount to conviction.
“At the end of the day, the rule of law must protect both the victim and the accused. No man is above the law. But equally, no man is beneath the law,” he said.
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