The Police Service Commission, PSC, has said that it has started a full -scale investigations into the activities of the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu and all the policemen said to have involved themselves in the political crises in the state.
Chairman of the PSC, Chief Mike Okiro made this known in Lagos yesterday.
Okiro spoke at a ceremony marking the commissioning of an estate built for policemen by President Goodluck Jonathan as the Archbishop Emeritus of Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, expressed disgust over the dishonourable happenings in Rivers State urging the political gladiators to tread softly to avoid truncating the current democratic dispensation.
In a statement, the Prelate took a swipe at the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for turning the hallowed chambers into a battlefield, saying such act was unexpected of their personalities.
However, 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, have warned a member of the House, Evans Bapakaye to stop impersonating the Speaker of the House, Hon Otelemaba Amachree saying that, ‘’at no time was the Speaker impeached.’’
This was contained in a statement they signed as an account of what happened in the House penultimate Tuesday.
Their reaction followed what they described as a plethora of publications by Bapakaye, claiming to be the speaker of the house.
Okiro said that the PSC had received all the petitions forwrded to it by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on the activities of Police Commissioner Mbu but added, ‘’however, that the principle of fundamental human rights demand that an accused person should be given a fair hearing. I have directed the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the matter and once he is found wanting he will be dealt with accordingly.”
Amaechi had petitioned the PSC against Commissioner Mbu following his alleged poor handling of security matters involving those allegedly being backed by the presidency against his government. Copies of the petition were also sent to President Jonathan, the IGP, and principal officers of the National Assembly among others.
Okiro further said that Amaechi raised various allegations against Mbu, part of which included gross abuse of power
He described the recent fracas involving members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as quite unfortunate but added that the public should allow the police to do its investigations to ensure that justice was done to the parties involved in the dispute.
Also, the Police Affairs Minister, Capt Caleb Olukolade, rtd, spoke in the same vein insisting that the authorities were still investigating the matter.
The Minister who asked the public to await the result of the investigations however, remarked that it was not part of his duties to speak on such issues, but added that investigations into the matter was on-going.
He said, “The Chairman Police Service Commission is in a better position to comment on it. Everything falls within his purview. The force has a way of dealing with an issue internally. The public should allow the force to investigate the matter. However, I have asked the Chairman Police Service Commission to look into the matter.”
Apart from Amaechi’s petition, there had been mass demand for the removal of Mbu following his alleged involvement in the crisis rocking the State House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, Okojie stated, “I condemn in strong terms the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly. More importantly, it is very disappointing to see our so-called ‘Honourables’ exchanging blows like gangsters. Such an act, if not checkmated quickly, is an invitation to terrorism and gangsterism. I want to call on every right thinking Nigerian to rise up and speak against such unruly conduct by men who are supposed to be making laws for our land.
”It is obvious that what is playing out in Rivers State is a fall-out of the crisis between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi. It is unfortunate that the lawmakers who are expected to be men and women of integrity have allowed themselves to be used as pawns. They are supposed to be masses-oriented, instead, they only go there to serve their personal interests. It is not done.
“The legislators must quickly call themselves to order. They must refrain from showing bad examples to Nigerians. All those found culpable in the whole mess should be punished or face the wrath of the law,.’’
26 members warn Evans Bipi
The 26 members of the assembly stated, “The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to the plethora of stories and conjectures that have constituted the bulk analysis at the public domain on the crisis of Tuesday 9th of July, 2013… the House leadership received a communication from the Executive to amend the Rivers State Appropriation Law 2013. Sequel to this, the House reconvened on the July 9, 2013.
“Following the reconvening of the House, five members: (Evans Bipi, Okechukwu Michael Chinda, Kelechi Nwogu, Victor Ihunwo and Martins Amaewhule) in alliance with the Rivers State Police Command and their thugs, carried out unprovoked attack and assault on members including the Speaker (Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree), the Leader of the House (Hon. Chidi Lloyd) and Hon. Wanjoku Chikere Azubuike. Thereafter they made a spirited but unsuccessful attempt to impeach the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in obvious disregard of the amplifying procedures set out in section 92 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeraia Order 12 and Order 28 of the standing orders of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
“Since the botched impeachment attempt, one Hon. Evans Bipi has rather surreptitiously impersonated the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in defiance and gross violation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has gone ahead to make publications in the national media. We hereby call on the public to disregard the impostor (Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi) and his fabricated fallacies which targeted at misinforming the general public.
“By virtue of the provisions of section 4 sub (6) and (7) (a-c) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended), the state House of Assembly is vested with legislative powers to make laws for the peace, governance and order of a state. Section 7(1) of the constitution says it is the responsibility of the House of Assembly to make laws for the existence, establishment, composition, structure, finance and functions of Local Councils. Section 100(1-5) further espouses the powers of the Assembly to make laws. Thus in line with the above provisions the Rivers State House of Assembly enacted the Local Government Law of Rivers State No.2 of 2012. Section 64 sub-section (1)-(4) of the Local Government Law of Rivers State No.2 of 2012 gives the power of suspension of Local Government Council to the Assembly.”
“In compliance with the above provisions, when the question was put on the interim report on the committee on local government on the issue. 23 members voted for the suspension and 5 members voted against.”
“In compliance with our legislative duties, we have had cause to vote on motions, bills and resolutions that have impacted positively on the citizens of Rivers state, and if a tiny minority of 5 out of 32 members have dissenting views, that does not impugn on the views of the majority.”
“We shall continue to support our amiable governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his people-friendly policies aimed at lifting our state from the shackles of a small political militia desirous of lording over and looting the treasury of our dear state.”
They also pledged their support and cooperation to the DIG Philemon Leha led fact-finding team sent by the Inspector General of Police as well as the Senate Committee on Local Government fact-finding mission.
‘’We totally dissociate ourselves from the second team of police officers led by a commissioner of police and Senator George T. Sekibo.”
“We reassure our constituents that we shall continue to support and fight for the truth and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we swore to uphold. We shall remain resolute in our resolve to defend our state from political predators scavenging for cheap popularity and a harvest of political fortunes.”
Those who signed were Honourables Golden Ngozi Chioma; Innocent B. Barikor; Josiah John Olu; Ibiso Nwuche; Belema Okpokiri; Legbosi Nwidadah; Andrew Anderson Miller; Augustine Ngo; Ben Horsfall; Okechukwu Nwaogu; Victor Amadi; Azubike Chikere Wanjoku; Victoria Nyeche; Benibo Anabraba; Irene Inimgba; Felicia Barizasi-Tane; Aye Atamah Pepple; Onari Brown; Gift Wokocha; Ewor Nname Robinson; Lucky Odili; Chidi Julius Lloyd; Chigbo Eligwe; Leyii Kwanee; Tonye Harry and the Speaker Otelemaba Amachree.
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