Speaker Warns Police Against Torturing Lloyd …He’s Not Hiding

Speaker of the Rivers State House of Asembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, has appealed to the State Police command  to stop further  plans or measures designed  to continue the alleged torture of the detained leader of the House, Hon. Chidi Lloyd.

The appeal  followed the fact that the leader limped into the Port Harcourt  High Court premises  last Wednesday where he was arraigned for assault and attempted murder.

In a statement signed by  his press secretary, Mr. Jim Opaka, the speaker  expressed fears over the lawmakers health who had been in police  custody since July 23, 2013 when he voluntarily presented himself to force Headquarters in Abuja, accompanied by his lead counsel, Belnolisa Nwafor (SAN).

It would be recalled that Lloyd was assisted by two men who held him by both arms to enable him walk into the court room on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Rt. Hon. Amachree has debunked insinuations that he  sneaked into  to a West African Country last Monday following the judgement of Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli, to evade possible arrest  by the  police, saying he travelled on official assignment.

Justice Enebali had confirmed the right of the police to invite  the speaker of the  House for questioning over his utterances on the security of the  State Governor and some top government officials including himself contrary to the claims, Rt. Hon. Amachree, in a press statement yesterday, said he had traveled officially to Windock, Namibia on Wednesday July 24, 2013 as  Head of the River’s Delegation to the commonwealth parliamentary Association (CPA) meeting, which  took place from July 22 to  28, 2013.

On Wednesday, a High court in Port Harcourt presided over by  Justice L.L. Nyordee adjourned to August 6,2013 hearing on whether the prosecution (police) can introduce a private lawyer to handle the suit between  Chidi Lloyd, who is the accused  and the police.

The court will also decide  if the  State Attorney-General, Wogu Bonus can take over  the  suit, given the disagreement between  defence counsel and the prosecution.