Governor Wike |
Governor Nyesom Wike has explained why he intervened early Saturday
as the State Security Services laid siege on the home of a federal judge
in Port Harcourt.
Operatives of the SSS launched an overnight assault on the residences
of senior judges across the country between Friday and Saturday in
search of evidence linking the judges to corruption.
Multiple sources said the clampdown began in Gombe State where the
SSS arrested Muazu Pindiga who served on the elections tribunal in
Rivers State.
The operation continued in Abuja on Friday night into early Saturday morning.
Mr. Wike arrived as the operation to arrest Justice Mohammed Liman,
residing at Number 35 Forces Avenue in Port Harcourt, began, the
governor’s spokesperson, Simeon Nwakaudu, said in a statement.
Mr. Wike was quoted as telling journalists that he would not allow
the SSS and other security agencies perpetrate “needless impunity” in
the state.
He said if the security agencies had a lawful directive to implement, they must follow due process.
“Not under my watch will I allow this kind of impunity to take
place,” the governor was quoted as saying. “That is why we are here. I
don’t know which judge they were detailed to abduct. I didn’t bother
myself to know which judge. All I am interested in is that, at this
level, it is not allowed.”
“He is not a criminal and he is not an armed robber. If the person
has committed an offence, invite him. It is only when he refuses to
honour the invitation that you can adopt this commando style.”
Mr. Wike said he had been threatened by armed agents who wanted to attack him.
“The Commissioner of Police is here, the Director of DSS is here.
Their operatives cocked their guns and threatened to shoot me. I have
never seen that before. Again, this is to tell you what we are facing.
We know that more will come. For us in this state, we shall continue to
resist it,” he said.
Mr. Wike added: “It doesn’t matter what it will cost. When you talk
about liberty, sacrifices must be made. We are not trying to stop an
arrest. All we are saying is that things must be done decently and in
line with the rule of law.
“Rivers State is under siege. For you to see a governor out at this
time of the day, something is wrong. A siege is an understatement. If
this type of thing happens next time, the people will resist it to the
last.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment
PLEASE BE POLITE