The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Joseph Mbu, says he has a good working relationship with the state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Mbu said this on Thursday in Abuja during a visit to the National Human Rights Commission office following the commission’s summon on him over alleged human rights violations in the course of his duties.
He said: “I am just carrying out my duties.
“The press is over blowing the issues in Rivers State.
“We are working with the governor amicably.
“But one thing is clear: the enemies of the government are not my enemies.
“I am a police officer; an umpire.
“My job is to make sure I protect everybody who is in the state and that is my professional calling and I stand by it.”
Mbu denied acting on the instructions of the Presidency.
He said he has no access to President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said: “Go and check my calls and phone and see if I have ever spoken with the President.
“I take instructions from my boss, from the Inspector-General of Police
“I don’t have any business with the President.
“My boss is the one responsible to the President.
“I have no access to the President and I don’t think I wish to have any access to the President.”
Mbu said that he had never been at loggerheads with the governor, stressing that the governor was his boss and as such he (Mbu) was working well with the governor.
He expressed gratitude to the commission for the opportunity given to him to tell his side of the story.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Ben Angwe, said it was necessary to summon the commissioner as part of the efforts to resolve the issues in Rivers State.
According to Angwe, the commission took the action in pursuant to its powers under the NHRC Amended Act, 2010.
He said: “Your coming here today is a quest by this commission to give fair hearing to all sides so as to have the opportunity of coming to a very fair determination of the matter .
“Basically, it’s as a result of the crisis in Rivers that the commission asked you to come because the subject matter is of public interest and the commission is investigating today.
“Thus, as the law requires, there should be a very cardinal principle of the rule of law, which holds that there should be fair hearing in all cases.
“Nobody has the immunity for violating the rights of the people.
“Therefore, this commission will investigate and take its decision against any human right violation.
“I want to assure you that what we are doing here is not an indictment on anybody.”
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