Court orders police to vacate Rivers LG secretariat

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  Africcon Report: Court orders police to vacate Rivers LG secretariat
  Africcon New Media – News
  
  From: Africcon Media – Nigeria
  
  A Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, has ordered the Nigeria Police to vacate the premises of Obio/Akpor Local Government secretariat.
  
  The court gave the directive on Monday after the Caretaker Committee of the council, Mr. Chikodi Dike, had approached to ensure that security operatives, who had sealed off the council, were asked to leave.
  
  The caretaker committee chairman had filed the case against the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, and the Rumuokoro Divisional Police Officer.
  
  Granting Dike’s plea, the presiding judge, Justice A.H Ngajiwa, described the closure and occupation of Obio/Akpor council secretariat as unconstitutional.
  
  He also described the seal-off as the usage of a sledge hammer to kill a fly, adding that the directive to the police to vacate the council headquarters would enable the caretaker committee to carry out its statutory functions, including the payment of workers’ salaries.
  
  Justice Ngajiwa warned that any contravention of the court order on the occupation of  the council premises by the police would lead to the arrest of culprits.
  
  Insisting on the vacation of the premises, Justice Ngajiwa directed the police to only provide minimal security within the council.
  
  The judge noted that many workers and their dependants would be facing untold hardship as a result of the forced closure of the council.
  
  Justice Ngajiwa, however, adjourned the case for further hearing till May 21, 2013.
  
  Speaking on the court order, Dike expressed satisfaction with the directive to the police, adding that the development would pave the way for the council to sign vouchers and pay workers’ salaries.
  
  However, the Rivers State Police Public Relations, Mrs. Angela Agabe, said the command had not been served the court’s ruling and would not be able to comment on the matter.