Following a disagreement with a junior employee of the commission, Mr. Julius Haruna, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) north-west zonal director, passed away.
The director passed away in his office last Wednesday in Katsina, according to a statement released on Tuesday by Tam Tamunokonbia, board secretary of the FCCPC.
Tamunokonbia noted that Haruna was involved in a dispute which escalated to fisticuffs with Ms Muibat Abdusalam, another employee of the commission.
He said the board had also directed an immediate, but temporary relief of relevant leadership and operatives within the commission to ensure a fair, transparent and credible investigation.
Tamunokonbia said that Ben Nwoye, a legal practitioner and a member of the board, was appointed the chairman of the independent internal investigation panel.
He said that retired AVM Wakili Ahmed, another member of the board, was appointed co-chairman of the panel.
Tamunokonbia said the board directed that representatives from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, be invited as members of the panel.
“The Katsina State Police Command is currently continuing its own investigations. Ms Abdusalam is currently detained by the command. The commission will continue to make appropriate, full and frank disclosures of information, any investigative outcomes and or judicial processes, where applicable.
“The commission notwithstanding continues to discharge its mandate including across the North-West region,” he said.
He said the board extended its condolence to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.
The statement claimed that a panel has been established by the commission’s governing board to look into his death.