Uduak Patrick
A Non-Governmental Organization, the Justice Network has threatened to drag to court, any policeman who harasses Dr Chinyere Emeka Precious, the owner of God’s Gift Clinic and Maternity who was accused of running a baby factory in Elelenwo, Rivers State.
The NGO said it was worrisome that after a competent court had acquitted the pastor of the charges of baby factory operations, following the withdrawal of the allegations by the police, some policemen still went to her home to cause havoc and then shut down the hospital.
President of the group, Mrs Uduak Elijah, said in a statement that the Network was ready to drag the police or any other person to court if the harassment continued. She was however appreciative of the police IG for wading into the case, following last month’s invasion of her home and closure of the hospital.
She said: “We decided to take up her case when we read the report of how policemen invaded her home again and even shut down her hospital on the grounds that she is running a baby factory; the same allegation that was levelled against her and for which the police said they found nothing incriminating against her; which was what informed her acquittal by a compete court in Port Harcourt”.
Elijah also hailed the police authorities for ordering the re-opening of the hospital while also commending them for arresting and questioning some of the people that were involved in the second raid, which she suspected was an illegal operation.
“Since last year, we have been following the case of one Rev Dr Chinyere Emeka Precious; how she was arrested, tortured, detained, extorted, dragged to court and eventually set free, after the police withdrew charges against her.
“Our worry now is this: why is she being harassed this way for an allegation that has since been declared dead by the same police? Our preliminary findings have however shown that those behind this harassment may have been hired to embarrass her. We are also aware that Dr Chinyere has since petitioned the police on this.
“Following her petition, the police IG has ordered that the matter be investigated by the police headquarters. We are aware that some of the policemen who were involved in this have already been arrested and questioned in Abuja. For this, we express appreciation to the IG but we will insist that all the people involved in this be brought to book.
“Second, we understand that following preliminary findings, the hospital has been re-opened on September 2, on the orders of the Force CID which is handling the matter, after it was shut down for about a month. The invasion of her home and closure of the hospital was on August 6. For this too, we appreciate the police high command for their openness, thorough investigations and diligence in the handling of this matter.
“If need be, we will take legal steps to stop this impunity. We cannot continue to take laws into our hands, the way it has happened in the recent past. Dr Chinyere is a Nigerian and has the right to life and freedom of movement.
“There is no reason why people should continue to harass her. Anybody who has scores to settle with her should always adopt the right legal steps to seek redress, rather than try to pass through the back door to pursue,” the group said.