….Set up committee to probe attack
…….PDP blames APC leaders
The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to set up an ad-hoc Committee to investigate the attack at the Port Harcourt Division of the Rivers State High Court’s complex.
The resolution followed series of condemnations by different members, who stressed the need to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
This was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep Betty Apiafi entitled “Assault On the Rivers State Judiciary by hoodlums aided by men of the Federal Special Anti Robbery squad (FSARS)”.
Recall that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, warned on Monday that the attackers of the Port Harcourt Division of the Rivers State High Court’s complex last Friday must not be allowed to go unpunished.
Leading the debate on the motion, Apiafi explained that on May 11, “organized hoodlums aided by over 40 operatives of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad FSARS under the command of Akin Fakorede Commander, ( FSARS), Rivers state blocked all the entrances of the Rivers state High court complex for hours preventing judicial workers, judges, litigants and lawyers from gaining access into their office and court rooms to carry out their judicial duties and businesses”.
“While the siege lasted, the organised hoodlums aided by the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad freely harassed innocent persons including lawyers, judges and other judiciary staff”, she added.
The lawmaker traced the incident to the APC Local Government Congress where an aggrieved faction had gone to court to seek redress, while another faction with backing of the security men stormed the complex to prevent the court from sitting.
“Such brazen and sponsored invasion of an arm of government amounts to an assault and contempt of the judiciary and a show of violence as well as an infringement of the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria”, Apiafi said
She however maintained that, “security agencies especially the Nigeria Police Force is failing in its responsibility to protect democratic institutions” adding that the invasion of institutions of government is now becoming a norm and no doubt ridicules our democracy before the international community”.
Speaking in support of the motion, Rep Gogo Bright Tamuno, said, “I want this House to make a strong statement condemning the invasion of the court because today is Rivers state who knows who is next.
On her part, Rep Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, PDP, said, “in 1999 we said it was nascent democracy and then it graduated into a fledgling democracy we can’t continue like this all of us here are leaders and we need to ask ourselves whether we want to test down this country.
The motion scaled through when the Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuf who presided over the plenary session put the motion to voice vote.
….PDP Demands Arrest, Prosecution of APC Leaders
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) linked with the invasion of a High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last Friday.
The party in a statement sent to Frontline News Online said, “Nigerians were alarmed when armed thugs, sponsored by some desperate leaders of the dysfunctional and violent-prone APC, attacked the court, shot their way through, assaulted judicial officers and disrupted proceedings in a bid to stop the court from giving a ruling against them”.
“It is instructive to note that the attack came on a day the court set aside to make pronouncement on a suit related to APC’s ward congresses for which some APC leaders in a faction allegedly aligned with the Presidency, including a serving minister, unleashed hoodlums on the court.
“We are particularly alarmed that since the attack, no arrest has been made, while the Federal Government has not taken any concrete steps to bring the perpetrators of this treasonable act to book.
“The failure of the APC-led Federal Government to act validates allegations that the attack was coordinated as part of the design to intimidate and emasculate the judiciary and ultimately erode its ability to boldly dispense justice on election matters, ahead of the 2019 general election, having realised the electoral failure that awaits the APC”, the statement further read.
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