IG risks jail over police siege to Enugu Assembly

An Enugu Federal High Court on Friday threatened to commit the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to prison over the refusal of the Enugu State Police Command to reopen the state’s House of Assembly as ordered by the court.



The threat was contained in a Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order (Form 48), signed by the Registrar of the court and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

A copy of the Form 48 read, “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this court order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

The court, presided over by Justice D.V. Agishi, had on Monday, granted an ex-parte motion brought by the Speaker of the Assembly, Eugene Odoh, in suit number FHC/EN/CS/99/2015, which has eight members of the House of Assembly, the Commissioner of Police and the IGP as 1st to 10th respondents respectively.

The Enugu State House of Assembly has remained under locks about five days after the Enugu Federal High Court ordered the police to reopen the legislative complex.

The Assembly has been locked since May 5, when crisis erupted in the House after Odoh led about 14 lawmakers to commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Sullivan Chime.

Despite the court order, the Enugu State Police Command has invited Odoh over some allegations raised against the governor by the lawmakers, who seek to remove him from office.

The invitation followed a petition sent to the police by the governor, who had denied the allegations.
The police, specifically, want Odoh to defend allegations that the governor forged a N12bn supplementary budget in 2012.

Also invited by the police over the matter is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state and former National Auditor of the party, Chief Ray Nnaji, who had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, seeking the investigation of several allegations bordering on official corruption against the governor.