The Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, on Tuesday showed up at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, exactly seven days after he was invited by the police over the free-for-all by some members of the assembly.
But the Aide-De-Camp to Governor
Rotimi Amaechi, Debeware Semeikumo, and the Chief Security Officer,
Tony Iwelu, shunned a similar invitation to them.
The PUNCH learnt of these just as
indications emerged in Abuja that the Senate might endorse the House
of Representatives decision to take over the functions of the state
assembly.
Lloyd, Semeikumo and Iwelu were
invited on July 16 to explain their roles in the July 8
free-for-all in which some lawmakers were injured.
The Majority leader, who had earlier
been declared wanted by the Rivers State Police Command in connection
with the fracas, arrived at the Force Headquarters at 5. 45pm and
was immediately directed to the Force Criminal Investigation Department,
where he was asked to write his statement.
A top Police source, who confirmed the
lawmakers arrival, said it was unlikely that he would be released on
Tuesday as a team of investigators needed to interrogate him.
“Lloyd came to the Force Headquarters
about 5:45pm on Tuesday and he was asked to write his statement. It is
not certain he would be released today (Tuesday) because he is going to
face serious interrogation,” the source added.
As of 11.10pm, he had yet to leave the police headquarters, indicating that he had been detained.
When contacted, the Deputy Force
Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said he could not confirm whether
Lloyd was detained or not.
But he said that Amaechi’s ADC, who
was captured in a video fighting a member of the assembly, and the
CSO did not appear at the FCID as directed.
Lloyd, who was also captured on video
attacking another lawmaker, Michael Chinda, with a mace, had
claimed that he was receiving treatment for an injury he sustained
during the fracas at an undisclosed hospital.
One of our correspondents learnt from
another police source that Semeikumo, who is a police officer and
Iwelu, a State Security Service operative, might have absconded from
duty, thereby putting their career in jeopardy.
Asked the implication of such
disobedience, the DFPRO said it would be presumptuous to talk about
the punishment that awaited them.
“I can confirm to you that the CSO and
the ADC have not reported to the Force Headquarters; but I can’t talk
on the implications of this on their career; it would be presumptuous to
talk about that now,” Mba said.
When our correspondent in Port Harcourt
asked Amaechi’s Chief Press Secretary, . David Iyofor, why the two
security personnel had not honoured the invitation, he replied that
his boss was not stopping them from doing so.
Iyofor explained that the ADC had gone
to seek medical attention after sustaining injuries from an attack
while trying to protect the governor.
He said, “As we speak, he is being
treated and I am sure the police are aware of this. The police
investigators that came to Port Harcourt were clearly told this.
“I am sure the police know how to invite
the CSO if they want him. . However, the question we should be asking
is: why are those who started the fracas not being invited?”
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on
States and Local Government Administration, has recommended that the
National Assembly should take over the functions of the Rivers
assembly following its inability to carry out its functions.
The House of Representatives had on
July 10 passed a resolution, urging the National Assembly to take over
the duties of the assembly.
It hinged its decision on Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
The Senate’s committee, which
investigated the fracas by the lawmakers, also recommended the
redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph
Mbu, because of the rift between him and Amaechi.
Although a copy of the report was not
immediately available, a member of the Kabiru Gaya-led committee, told
one of our correspondents in confidence, that they found out that
the crisis was fuelled by the conflict between the governor and the
Presidency.
According to him, there were indications
that the Presidency was supporting the five members of the assembly,
who attempted to sack the speaker.
He said, “From our findings, it was
clear that the two parties had faults. The Presidency, on one side
backing a faction of the members of the assembly and the Governor on the
other hand, supporting the other faction.
“We found the action of the five
members despicable. The action of the Majority Leader, who used the
mace to hit the head of one of his colleagues was also despicable.
“We also discovered that the
Commissioner of Police and the governor can no longer work together to
secure the state. One has to leave and of course you cannot ask the
governor to leave. So the commissioner will have to go.
“We are also recommending that the
National Assembly should take over the functions of the assembly, given
the current state of affairs at the legislature.”
The PUNCH
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Follo - follo senate. You ppl call urselves upper chamber, yet it is the lower chamber thattake the initiative on every critical and delicate issue. Maybe its high time the House of Rep take over legislative duties in this country. They are the ppl that call the Executives to order, they worked against the fuel subsidy removal, they intervened immediatelly Rvers crises began. The senate is just there enjoying big allowances for nothing. USELESS PPL!
ReplyDeleteAnony 11:13 ,i concor wit u. D police shld release dt man immediately. D pple dt started d fight,d 5 reps n der cults gps in see in d house wer are dey. Who allowed dem inside d hous...Police. I G shld release dt man immediately b4 u see mass protest blocking all entrance to Abj.n d Police hqtrs. I bi like say dis our police force don dey cracy.Wen u see heavily armed ciminals u run,na innocent man u dey hold.kpalawo.
ReplyDeleteRelease who? That murderer? Abeg arrest the guy and charge him for attempted murder. Simple!
ReplyDeleteWhere is Bipi who was captured on video saying "I gave Lloyd one blow and he dropped, took on number two and he dropped"
ReplyDeletePolice should invite all and resolve this whole thing once and for all period
Joseph