A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday ordered the police to withdraw its personnel from the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Secretariat in Rivers State and maintain minimal security at the premises.
The police had on May 3 sealed the secretariat located at Rumuodomaya, preventing members of the caretaker committee, staff and the public from gaining access into it.
The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph, had said the premise was sealed following intelligence information that some thugs were planning to burn it.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, who gave the order, said that the police should withdraw its personnel from the council’s premises.
He said that the withdrawal would enable members of the council’s caretaker committee, staff and members of the public to have access to the secretariat to transact their businesses.
The judge, however, said the police should arrest anybody or group of persons entering the secretariat to cause trouble.
The authorities of the council had gone to court to seek a court order compelling the police to vacate secretariat.
The Counsel to the applicants, Emenike Ebete, told reporters that the “ruling was well considered.
“I commend his lordship’s industry in delivering a well considered ruling; I think it means the end of injustice.
“Our prayer was that the police should be ordered to withdraw its officers and men from Obio/Akpor Local Government Council Secretariat to allow access to members of the caretaker committee, staff and the public to do their normal businesses with the council.”
In his comments, Chikodi Dike, Chairman of the Council’s Caretaker Committee, said “the rule of law has taken its course.
“They have given us justice; we are happy, the people of Obio/Akpor are happy.
“Justice has prevailed; this is the hope of the common man.
“Our people can be paid salaries; like you all know, we have not been able to pay April salaries and allowances because of the sealing of our council.”
NAN.
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