A/Ibom liaises with police on church collapse culprits

The Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko, has said the government will liaise with the police to ensure that those found culpable in the Reigners Bible Church building collapse are prosecuted.

The roof of the church, located in the state capital Uyo collapsed on December 10, 2016, killing 30 people.

Nwoko spoke yesterday in Uyo while reacting to criticism in some quarters that there was an attempt to exonerate the Founder of the Reigners Bible Church, Mr Akan Weeks, who was accused of impunity and the use of quacks in the construction of the church building.

He said the state government would not prosecute anyone based on the report of the commission of enquiry as it was set up to allow parties involved to testify freely, but added that the government would ensure that anyone found culpable from the investigation to follow would be made to face the full weight of the law.

He promised to liaise with police authorities in the state to ensure a thorough investigation of those indicted by the report of the commission, and ensure that justice was done.

“No one has exonerated, but been we have to carry out proper investigation. You cannot just jail anyone. We must follow due process, but trust that justice will be done,” he said.

Meanwhile the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong, has said the Akwa Ibom State government has taken steps to forestall a repeat of similar crisis in the state with the establishment of emergency health centres and trained emergency personnel.