The Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Delta State Government to probe the cause of the crisis in Uzere, Isoko South Local Government Area, may subpoena the embattled monarch of community, HRM Isaac Udogri.
Udogri have persistently absent himself from the commission's sitting since it commenced sitting in Government House Annex, Warri.
He however made a sudden appearance on Monday but appear to have dodged out when it was his turn to appear on Wednesday.
Although the monarch sent his Personal Assistant, Charly Itugbe to appear for him on Wednesday, he couldn't answer all question bordering on the memoranda submitted by the monarch during cross examination by Chief Efe Akpofere (SAN).
Counsel to the community, Chief Victor Otomiewo had on Wednesday made oral application to the commission that the monarch should be subpoena since he's refusing to personally appear to state his own role in the crisis vis-a-vis the allegations against community leaders in his memoranda and interviews granted in the media.
"The monarch has to come here but his counsels are trying to shield him so we have appealed to the commission to issue a subpoena ordering him to come and clarify his allegations", Otomiewo said.
Chairman of the panel, Justice Sylvester Ehiwario, had earlier frown at the persistent absent of the monarch saying the monarch ought to appear by himself especially as the crisis evolve around him.
"It important that the monarch should be here to clarify some of the allegations he made against individuals in the crisis", Ehiwario said earlier.
Counsel to the monarch, Chief Albert Akpomudje (SAN) had argued that there was no need the monarch appear by himself again since he had made his submission through his counsel.
Justice Ehiwario had earlier dismissed the plea by Akpomudje for the monarch not to appear insisting that he has to appear to establish the allegations made against individuals moreso that the crisis evolve around him.
Meanwhile, the commission however issued a subpoena ordering that the Divisional Police Officer incharge of Ekpan Police Station, CSP. Mohammed Saleh Ryau who was then the DPO of Oleh Police Station to appear before it on Monday 26th to furnish it with the role he played between 2008 and 2009 in respect to the kidnap of three Shell staff in Uzere in 2008.
The crisis erupted in the Uzere last year after security agencies killed two youths, during a protest against SPDC, a development which led to the burning of the monarch’s palace and some vehicles belonging to the security agencies by irate youths.
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