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IGP TO COURT: You lack jurisdiction on Rivers re-run election matter

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The Nigeria Police on Monday asked an Abuja Federal High Court to hands off from a suit filed by Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike over the December 10 Rerun election in the state because it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Wike is praying the court to order the police not to investigating allegations, petitions of electoral crimes and other electoral offences which took place during the rerun election.

However, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Damian Okoro, who are first and third defendants in the suit, told the court presided over by justice Gabriel Kolawaole on Monday that it has no power to adjudicate on the matter.

According to Mr. Deji Morakinyo, counsel to the IGP and deputy commissioner, since the defendants had filed a notice of preliminary objection to Wike’s motion on interlocutory injunction, the issue of jurisdiction was essential and have to be first decided before the substantive case can be heard.

He therefore said that the defendants would reject any application that sought to stop the police from carrying out its constitutional duties.

In his argument, counsel to Wike, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) argued that police was wrong to constitute a panel to investigate the crisis that trailed the re-run election and prayed the court to give an order stopping the investigation pending the outcome of the suit.

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He added that the investigation was the matter in contention.

The trial judge, Kolawole, while stating that the Monday proceeding was for the defendants to show cause why they should not be restrained from investigating the allegations arising from the re-run election, however said that he cannot see any irreparable damage the plaintiff would suffer should the police go ahead with the investigation.

The judge explained that even if the investigation is conducted, that he still has the power to set aside the report of the investigation, for being conducted while the matter is ongoing in court.

While he asked the defendants to decide if it will continue with the investigation or not being aware that it could be overruled by the court, he adjourned the matter till February 10 for further proceeding.

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