Chief Judge of Benue state, Justice Iorhemen Hwande, yesterday granted the request for stay of proceedings on the Commission of Inquiry probing the administration of former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, pending the hearing and determination of a case filed against the Commission by Suswam.
Justice Hwande gave the order in an exparte application filed on behalf of Suswam by his counsel, Mr Tawo Tawo (SAN) seeking the leave of court to apply for judicial review of the transactions made during the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom and six others in setting up the commission.
The former governer had dragged Governor Ortom and the commission to court by way of exparte application asking the court to disband and set aside the Administrative Commission of Inquiry.
He insisted that the commission was incapable of exercising judicial powers and lacked constitutional powers to investigate or adjudicate upon the issues submitted to it for inquiry.
Recall that the commission was expected to make findings about those responsible for lease or allocation and sale of real property belonging to Benue government.
Suswam in his application however, said that the commission was set up to witch-hunt and smear his public name and destroy his legacy.
He deposed in the application that he ran a transparent administration and rendered periodic account of his stewardship to the state throughout his eight years in office.
The former governor argued that the resources of the state were judiciously used and the impact was visible all over the state.
He therefore, sought the court to grant his application of quashing the commission and equally asked the court to stay further proceedings of the commission pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The state chief Judge in his ruling, ordered that the proceedings of the commission be stayed pending the determination of the substantive case.
Justice Hwande also assigned the case to Justice Adam Onum and ordered that hearing should commence on October 22, 2015.