The new Rivers State Police Commissioner, Dan Bature has received his first baptism of fire and combat test since he arrived Port Harcourt a forthnight ago as a group of organized thugs later understood to have been invited by the caretaker committee chairman of Port Harcourt City council, Nnamdi Wuche clashed with the men in black over the meeting of judicial officers scheduled to hold at the State High Court premises Tuesday, September 23, 2014. But for the prompt intervention of the State Police Commissioner and his men, the crisis rocking the State judiciary which has stalled all court proceedings would have taken a new and more dangerous dimension.
The High Court judges in the State were said to have planned to meet to rub minds over the lingering judicial crisis with a view to proffering a solution to the problem.
But on arriving the court premises at the scheduled time, the judges were astonished to discover that the keys of the high court gates had been removed and in their place, welded to forestall entry into the premises.
The judges who first arrived reportedly alerted the law enforcement agents who had earlier been notified of the planned meeting by the judicial officers.
Upon arriving the scene of the incident and confirming the judges’ report, the police were said to have ordered that the welded bars on the gate be removed and the judicial officers allowed access to the court for their meeting.
But no sooner had the gates been flung open than the CTC Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, Mr. Wuche stormed in and objected the police instructions.
As arguments between the security operatives and the CTC Chairman, obviously acting on instructions from above heated up, the State Police boss was informed and wasted no time in racing down to the scene in company of his service chiefs.
Overwhelmed by the police insistence and presence, Mr. Wuche had to send calls and messages across and in a matter of minutes, arrived three buses load of violent youths apparently armed to disrupt the meeting and confront any opposition.
At this point, the CTC, Chairman, Nnamdi Wuche had given as a condition for the meeting to proceed, that Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha who was yet to arrive for the meeting and hoped to preside over the meeting must not be allowed to enter the court premises or preside over the meeting.
It was supposedly the refusal of the police to accept this condition that provoked the angry thugs the more and before you could say ‘stop’, violence had erupted.
It took police reinforcement from Mopol 19 and use of teargas canisters to contain the situation that had spread up to the City Council Secretariat.
As the melee escalated, both security men and newsmen were all wrapped up, even as passersby and other road users scampered for their safety.
The situation later calmed down about three hours after, and the judicial officers proceeded with the peace meeting which outcome was yet to be made public at the time of filing in this report.
It would be recalled that this is happening barely two days after the official residence of
The new Rivers State Police Commissioner, Dan Bature has received his first baptism of fire and combat test since he arrived Port Harcourt a forthnight ago as a group of organized thugs later understood to have been invited by the caretaker committee chairman of Port Harcourt City council, Nnamdi Wuche clashed with the men in black over the meeting of judicial officers scheduled to hold at the State High Court premises Tuesday, September 23, 2014. But for the prompt intervention of the State Police Commissioner and his men, the crisis rocking the State judiciary which has stalled all court proceedings would have taken a new and more dangerous dimension.
The High Court judges in the State were said to have planned to meet to rub minds over the lingering judicial crisis with a view to proffering a solution to the problem.
But on arriving the court premises at the scheduled time, the judges were astonished to discover that the keys of the high court gates had been removed and in their place, welded to forestall entry into the premises.
The judges who first arrived reportedly alerted the law enforcement agents who had earlier been notified of the planned meeting by the judicial officers.
Upon arriving the scene of the incident and confirming the judges’ report, the police were said to have ordered that the welded bars on the gate be removed and the judicial officers allowed access to the court for their meeting.
But no sooner had the gates been flung open than the CTC Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, Mr. Wuche stormed in and objected the police instructions.
As arguments between the security operatives and the CTC Chairman, obviously acting on instructions from above heated up, the State Police boss was informed and wasted no time in racing down to the scene in company of his service chiefs.
Overwhelmed by the police insistence and presence, Mr. Wuche had to send calls and messages across and in a matter of minutes, arrived three buses load of violent youths apparently armed to disrupt the meeting and confront any opposition.
At this point, the CTC, Chairman, Nnamdi Wuche had given as a condition for the meeting to proceed, that Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha who was yet to arrive for the meeting and hoped to preside over the meeting must not be allowed to enter the court premises or preside over the meeting.
It was supposedly the refusal of the police to accept this condition that provoked the angry thugs the more and before you could say ‘stop’, violence had erupted.
It took police reinforcement from Mopol 19 and use of teargas canisters to contain the situation that had spread up to the City Council Secretariat.
As the melee escalated, both security men and newsmen were all wrapped up, even as passersby and other road users scampered for their safety.
The situation later calmed down about three hours after, and the judicial officers proceeded with the peace meeting which outcome was yet to be made public at the time of filing in this report.
It would be recalled that this is happening barely two days after the official residence of Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha was gutted by fire, an incident many said was politically motivated. Okocha was appointed as the administrative Chief Judge of the State by the NJC pending the resolution of the imbroglio between the judicial council and Governor Chibuike Amaechi who prefers Hon. Justice PNC Agumagu.
was gutted by fire, an incident many said was politically motivated. Okocha was appointed as the administrative Chief Judge of the State by the NJC pending the resolution of the imbroglio between the judicial council and Governor Chibuike Amaechi who prefers Hon. Justice PNC Agumagu.
