Wike runs to court to stop police probe of Rivers rerun poll

Rivers State Governor Nyesom has described police investigation of allegations of crimes committed during the December 10, 2016 rerun elections in the state as illegal.

He also stated that the probe is unconstitutional, null and void and asked Abuja Federal High Court to stop it.

This was as he applied for an interim order of injunction barring the police from proceeding with planned investigation into complaints, petitions, allegations of crime and various acts of criminality during the poll.

Wike in an ex-parte motion filed through his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) before Justice Gabriel Kolawole on Monday, asked the court to issue an interim order of injunction restraining Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris from enforcing or executing matters contained in a letter the IGP wrote to Wike on December 20, 2016, pertaining to the probe

Joined in the suit as defendants, are the Department of State Security (DSS) and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damian Okoro.

Ozekhome, explained to the court that the IGP had in his December letter to Wike entitled, “Investigation into allegations of crimes committed during the last rerun elections in Rivers state”, disclosed that the, “purview of the investigation will cover allegations of bribes taken, several brazen murder incidents (including that of serving Police Officers), reports of gross human rights abuses, acts of sabotage/terrorism, kidnapping for ransom and ballot box snatching, all of which were perpetrated in connivance with several federal and state civil servants as well as highly placed politicians within and outside the state”.

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The letter according to counsel to Wike also demanded the governor should supply the Police investigative team with all necessary information and exhibits which may be of help for the team in the investigation.

Ozekhome however argued that the action of the Police to set up a panel to investigate crisis in the rerun elections in Rivers State was illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and null and void.

He therefore called on the court, to, for the interest of justice set aside Mr. Idris’ letter to governor Wike and direct the IGP to instead await the outcome of the commission of inquiry set up by the Rivers State government.

The governor went further to argue in a supporting affidavit attached to the motion, that it was Police and the Army that orchestrated the violence during the poll.

Some independent election observers had after the election accused Nigerian Police and the Army of being partisan during the election and accused them as the root cause of the violence that marred the election.

 

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