Metro
Court stops IGP from shutting down Gov Ortom’s livestock guards
A Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi has granted an interim order restraining the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Benue State Police Commissioner from shutting down the operation of the state’s livestock guards.
The court made the order while granting the prayers of the state government in a suit brought before it by the state government through its counsel, Douglas Pepe on Thursday, seeking to stop the IGP and police commissioner from functioning outside their constitutional mandates.
The Benue livestock guards, established by the Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration, are saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the state’s anti open grazing law passed in 2017.
Mr. Pepe had argued that “the Livestock Guard was a creation of law and an organisation carrying out legitimate functions as stipulated by the legislation establishing it.
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In his ruling on the motion, Justice Ityonyiman granted the application pending the determination of the motion on notice. He adjourned the case to November 23 for hearing of the motion.
While reacting to the court order, Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa, said the administration believed in rule of law and due process, hence its decision to approach the court on the matter.
He also wondered why the police who are supposed to help enforce laws, were seeking to proscribe an organisation legitimately established by the state government.
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