The political tension which engulfed Rivers State is rebuilding as the state Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature, yesterday led Justice Daisy Okocha, who was appointed administrative judge by the National Judicial Council (NJC) into the court premises in Port Harcourt to preside over a meeting of judges.
The court premises had been sealed by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) when they embarked on an indefinite strike following conflicting directives from the state government and NJC over who should be the chief judge of the state.
Yesterday, about 20 heavily armed policemen who arrived in three operational Toyota Hilux Vans broke the main gate of the state high court at about 10.30a.m. to lead Okocha into the premises of the court.
The gates of the court had been locked since June 10 when the judiciary workers went on strike.
THISDAY gathered that Okocha arrived the court at about 9.30a.m. but could not go in because the chain with which the gates were normally locked had been further reinforced.
The main gate, according to a source, had been welded to prevent entry.
She was said to have driven to the headquarters of the state Police Command, along Moscow Road, to inform the Commissioner of Police.
The police commissioner had expressed surprise at the development and detailed some armed policemen to escort Okocha back to the premises of the high court with a firm instruction to facilitate her entry into the high court premises to enable her preside over the meeting with other judges of the high court.
Okocha had sent a circular to all the judges of the high courts on Monday, calling them to a meeting yesterday at the court premises.
She was also said to have informed the commissioner of police and the state director of the Department of State Security (DSS) about the meeting and enlisted their protection for all the judges attending the meeting.
But as they gained entry and started the meeting, at about 11.05a.m, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, Nnamdi Nweche, obviously noticed the unusual police presence in the area.
After making some inquiries, Nweche left the scene only to return about 20 minutes later with bus loads of young men.
The youths tried to access the premises to disrupt the meeting of the judges.
But the Area Commander for Port Harcourt, Aliyu Garba, spontaneously rallied his men and promptly stopped Nweche and the boys from heading towards any of the buildings in the state high court.
Nweche was stopped by the area commander from addressing journalists inside the premises of the high court.
He and the boys who had forced their way inside the premises later came out to address the press.
At 12.05p.m., the commissioner of police, who arrived at the gates of the high court in a convoy of four Black Toyota Land cruiser Jeeps asked: “What are these people doing here? What are these people doing here? He walked briskly into the premises of the high court surrounded by heavily armed anti-riot policemen. The commissioner of police turned backed swiftly and ordered: “You better leave here in your own interest; leave here in your own interest”.
A minute after, tear gas started raining. A burst of tear gas canisters sent the boys who had gathered in front of the court premises, and journalists scampering to safety. More anti-riot policemen from MOPOL 19 were also mobilised to the court.
As the judges continued their meeting behind closed doors, not less than 35 operational Police Hilux vehicles were seen parked in strategic places around the high court
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, condemned the action of the police.
“We are disturbed at the action of the police. The supervision of an illegal entry into the premises of the high court is obviously not one of the functions of the commissioner of police,” she said.
She expressed worry that the action of Okocha could mean renewed efforts to impeach Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
“We appeal to the commissioner of police to allow peace to reign in Rivers state. Supervising the break and entry into the premises of the high court is a precursor to opening the State House of Assembly to carry out their plans to impeach Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by the six anti-Amaechi lawmakers,” she said.
In his own reaction, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms, asserted: “Justice Okocha convened the meeting on an illegal pedestal that she is the administrator of the Rivers State Judiciary pursuant to her appointment, according to her by the National Judicial Council, NJC, which by Section 160 (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has no such powers.”
He also said: “Apart from the contemptuous and brazen approach to this matter as exemplified in the desire to use force, as venue of the meeting, the High Court that has been under lock by striking judiciary workers, which act is unbecoming of a judicial officer, we note the potential of this approach to precipitate chaos, breach of peace and breakdown of law and order.”
The commissioner for Justice had written to the commissioner of police, on Monday, stating that the meeting for which Okocha had written for police protection was illegal and could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
He added that the meeting could have “serious security breach in the premises and can provoke a reaction from the striking workers and may attract politically-interested persons to the crises and thus lead to another series of crises.”
Credit: CKN Nigeria
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