Produce Chidi Lloyd In Court, Counsel Insists …Threatens Malicious Prosecution Suit …Community Cries Foul Over Son’s Detention …Deputy Speaker Urges Probe Into Torture Report

R-L: Dr. Tarilah Tebepah, Chairman, NDDC Board, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Chief of Army Staff and Dr. Christain Oboh, MD/CEO, NDDC at the commissioning of 30 units of Non-Commissioned officers block built and donated to the Nigerian Army by NDDC in Port Harcourt , yesterday.

The defence counsel to the embattled leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd, Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN) has threatened to sue for malicious prosecution if his client is not produced in court today to present his plea.
The police, who are the prosecution failed to produce the Leader in court yesterday in, the High Court presided over by Justice L.L Nyordee, which warranted adjournment to today.
Explaining his incapacitation, Nwofor said, “firstly, Chidi Lloyd was declared wanted by the police, that he was on the run. He submitted himself voluntarily at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
He was detained beyond the 24 hours allowed by section  34(5) of the constitution and today (yesterday) Monday the police prosecutor from Abuja filed the charges and the Hon Chief Judge assigned it to a Judge, and they listed the matter today for him to plead guilty or not guilty.
What do we have now? Police have not been able to produce Chidi Lloyd in court. You know too well that criminal law is unlike civil law. In criminal matter, the accused must be in court before the matter can go on. In civil cases, the parties may not be present, they can send their lawyers.
“So, by not producing Hon Chidi Lloyd for his plea this afternoon, it is very clear that already they are in violation of the law, and impunity we are talking about continued unabated, because the violation of section 215 of the criminal procedure law, and the violation  of the New Practice Direction made by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, particularly section 7 that gives every duty on the prosecution to produce the accused person in court.
“That is what we are complaining to the learned trial Judge”, he said.
The legal luminary thus stated that if the prosecution fails to produce his client in court today, he will have no option than to apply for the charges against his client to be struck out, and then sue the prosecution for malicious prosecution.
Meanwhile, Nwofor also noted that yesterday was the first time Justice Nyordee has presided on the matter, adding that there is already a written accusation of bias leveled against him.
Titled, “Affidavit of facts evidencing bias and undue influence on the court”, the accusation was signed and sworn to by Benjamin Israel Eke.
While adjourning the matter to today, Justice Nyordee had among other explanations, acknowledged that the prosecution was duly informed of yesterday’s sitting.
He, therefore, heeded the defence’s plea for adjournment to today by 11.00am, and ordered that a fresh notice  be sent to the prosecution as well as another order for the prosecution to ensure that it produces the accused in court today.
Chidi Lloyd was on Monday slammed with a six-count charge by the police following the July 9 fracas on the floor of the House. The charges include conspiracy, attempted murder, assault and malicious damage.
Menawhile, the people of Akpabu community in Emohua Local Government Areas of Rivers State, the home town of Leader of state House of Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd have condemned in strong terms the continued detention and torture of their son by the police.
The community also expressed fears for his life following a statement made by the state commissioner of police, Mbu Joseph Mbu that the police in the state were not aware of his whereabouts since he reported himself to the Nigerian police force headquarters, Abuja, last week.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the council of Chiefs, the community Development Committee (CDC) youths and women at Akpabu community, Monday, the CDC chairman, Mr Samuel Maduakolam warned that the community would not take it lightly should anything strange happen to their son, and called for his immediate release.
Mr Maduakolam wondered why the leader of the state Assembly should be made a scape goat in the recent crisis that engulfed the state House of Assembly on the 9th July, 2013, adding that their son acted in reaction to earlier attack on him by his fellow colleague.
He condemned the role being played by the Nigerian Police since the beginning of the crisis in the state, and urged the authorities of the Nigeria Police to employ honesty as well as purge themselves from sentiments and bias in the matter.
The CDC chairman described the House Leader as an illustrious son of the community, peaceful, focused and people-oriented, adding that he has done much for the community and the entire Emohua constituency.
According to him, the state lawmaker who is representing Emohua constituency in the state House of Assembly has attracted many development projects to the constituency, adding that the Akpabu community has benefited immensely from such developmental projects.
“Projects attracted by the leader of the House include, model primary school, health centre, community town hall, church cathedral, teachers quarters, potable water,. Roads, among others, he said, adding that the lawmaker also restored peace to some warring communities in the local government area.
He averred that youths in the local government area have benefitted from his empowerment schemes, adding that the people of the area can not afford to lose him should anything happen to him.
Also speaking, chairman of Akpabu council of Chiefs, Chief Patrick Dike called for the unconditional release of their son, who according to him, has impacted positively on the people of the area.
He opined that anybody in the lawmaker’s shoes would have also acted in  self defence like the House Leader did and called on those fighting the present administration in the state, especially those from Ikwerre ethnic nationality, to have a rethink.
The traditional leader explained that the community has resolved to continue to support the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led administration and the state House leader.
In the meantime, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwanee has dismissed claims by the Rivers State Police Command that it did not torture Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly as face saving.
Reacting to the statement by the commissioner of police, the Deputy Speaker described the police denial as insincere pointing out that what is expected of them is to investigate the allegation and fish out the culprits rather than deny it without any investigation.
He called on the police headquarters to investigate what happened on the arrival of Hon. Chidi Lloyd to Port Harcourt ,adding that it was not enough for the police in Abuja to say they treated him well.
Hon. Kwanee said reports available to him showed that Hon. Lloyd was treated with disrespect in violation of his rights, and that the reports filtering from the custody are being digested to enable a team of lawyers, the House is assembling to push the case to the ECOWAS Court to enforce Hon. Lloyd’s fundamental human rights.
Hon. Kwanee, who is the Chairman, Parliamentary Exchange and Mentorship Programme of the Pan African Parliament, said the idea of going to the International  Criminal Court is based on the fear that he might not obtain justice considering the powerful interest concerned in the matter.
He described the torture meted out to the House Leader as a custodial crime for which any police officer involved in should be punished.
The Deputy Speaker further stated that the torture of Lloyd ran foul to the 1984 International Convention Against Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatments.
He said it was this type of attitude by federal agencies concerned in the matter that informed the Assembly’s intention to go outside the borders of Nigeria to seek justice for the leader of the House.
Hon. Kwanee assured the family, friends and supporters of the Leader that the House will leave no stone unturned to enforce and protect his fundamental human rights, pointing out that there was a cause that led to the effect.