Lawmaker’s Kidnap: Rivers Assembly Adjourns Indefinitely

Following the kidnap of
a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly,  Hon. Golden Chioma last Tuesday, by suspected gunmen, the House has adjourned sitting indefinitely.
The kidnap of the lawmaker forced the lawmakers to adjourn  sitting and deliberation last Wednesday.
The House had asked the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mrs. Patricia Adagogo Semon Hart to appear before it on Wednesday to give details of how the $280million  loan being sought by the state government from African Development Bank and World Bank would be spent. The amount has been approved by the House.
Chioma, who is the Chairman House Committee on Judiciary was kidnapped in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt . Although details of the abduction were sketchy at the time of filing this report, the Police confirmed the incident.
Spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, said the anti-kidnap unit of the police had swung into action with a view to securing the release of Hon. Chioma, as well as apprehending those behind the abduction.
DSP Ahmad said detectives from the anti-kidnap unit and state anti-robbery squad was investigating the matter
As at press time, no ransome has been demanded nor contact made either to the House leadership or family of the lawmaker by the suspected gunmen.
It would be recalled that Hon Chioma recently conducted a public hearing with other members of the committee on a bill seeking to amend the Rivers State High Court law. The bill was later passed into law giving the Chief Registrar power to assign cases pending the appointment of a Chief Judge.

Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree (centre) chating with the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon Onari Brown (rigtht) and Hon Victor Wobo Nyeche (left), after the sitting of the House, last Monday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga