Nation
NBA Calls For Removal Of Abia CP
Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Umuahia branch, has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, to redeploy Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jonathan Johnson, from the state for alleged disobedience to court orders.
The Umahia Branch NBA chairman, Amanze Chioma made the call at a Press briefing in Umuahia, Thursday.
He said that Jonathan’s continued stay in Abia State would breed anarchy as his “penchant” to disobey court orders would create room for a lawless society.
Chioma also presented the petition of the NBA to the IGP, urging him to call the Abia CP to order by asking him to obey court orders.
The Umuahia branch NBA chairman said that disobedience to court orders would only create anarchy and lawlessness, adding that in such a society, anybody could be a victim.
The group, in its three-page petition to the IGP dated April 6, 2010 and endorsed by the chairman, Chioma and Secretary, Chief Eze Ihekoronye, gave three instances of alleged disobedience to orders of court by the Abia Commissioner of Police.
According to the NBA, a Magistrate granted bail to one Nze Jossy Nnoduechi in Charge No. U/55C/2009 on December 15, 2009, and after the bail conditions had been perfected, he was released but the CP gave orders for his arrest shortly afterwards on the grounds that the court lacked the jurisdiction to grant the accused person bail in that matter.
The NBA also stated that in Suit No. HU/73/2010, an applicant, Sunday John, was granted bail on March 8, 2010. Rather than obey the order after being served, NBA alleged that Johnson hurriedly charged Sunday to a Magistrate Court , six days after being with the Orders of Court and the applicant was remanded at the Federal Prisons in Afara, Umuahia.
Furthermore, the group said that in Suit No.FHC/UM/M/03/2010, the presiding Judge, Justice E.A.Obile ordered the release of one Paschal C. Nwakanma. When Johnson was served with the Order, he ordered for the arrest of the counsel in that matter, Mr U.R.Ndubuka. They stated that NBA had to intervene to save him.
“Sir, these are very few glaring examples of the continued disobedience to Orders of Court by Mr Jonathan Johnson in Abia State . The unrepentant and ever growing addiction to disregard court orders by the Commissioner of Police is a daunting challenge to the administration of justice and shameful confrontation to the Rule of Law,” part of the petition read.
The NBA wrote further: “Sir, while we may approve of calls by the public to prosecute Mr Jonathan Johnson over several disobedience to Court Orders, it is imperative to advise him to desist from his unconscionable policy of detaining persons whose freedom has been declared by the court of Law.
“Jonathan Johnson’s attitude is a stubborn and recurrent problem in access to justice and Rule of Law in a democratic polity and we condemn it and urge you to call him to order in the interest of justice or he may face the wrath of the law he sought to destroy by his worrisome and continued disobedience to Court Orders.”
Reacting, Johnson denied ever disobeying any Order of Court. “I, Jonathan Johnson, I have never, never disobeyed any court orders,” he said as he challenged his accusers to prove their claim.
The Police Commissioner maintained that the NBA has never served him with any court orders or brought his attention to any that has been served on him and he disobeyed same. “Has the NBA chairman ever called me to say Commissioner, you have disobeyed a court order,” he asked.
With this development, Jonathan is the third CP whose removal from Abia was being sought.The first was CP Emmanuel Ezeozue on who the state House of Assembly passed a resolution, calling on the IGP to redeploy because he could not contain the onslaught of Kidnappers.
Same for Edgar Tam Nanakumo, who succeeded Ezeozue. Nanakumo also was apparently overwhelmed by the activities of Kidnappers. Johnson succeeded Nankumo.
Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.
She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.
Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.
The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.
Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.
He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.
Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.
He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.
According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.
Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.
Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them
John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah
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