Bizman Sues IGP, 12 Others Over Rights Violation

A Port Harcourt-based
businessman, Hon. Prince Stephen Lemachi, has dragged the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and twelve others to the Federal High Court, Port Harourt over the breach of his fundamental rights.
Hon. Lemachi, who stated this while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt at the weekend disclosed that the officers and men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Abuja, invaded his residence in Omachi estate, Rumuodamaya and assaulted him and his family over a land matter.
The businessmen explained that the police had nothing to do with land matters, which he described as purely civil.
He noted that  a detachment of police from SARS, Abuja, had invaded his residence shooting canisters of tears-gas thereby injuring the health of his four months old baby and other members of his family.
Hon. Lemachi stated that all the members of his family were hospitalised following the noise of gun-shots and tear-gas emitted in his residence. The business man expressed surprise that Special Anti-Robbery Squad could delve into land matters, a situation which he described as pathetic.
He remarked that the action of the police caused panic in Omachi estate as the usual calm of the high profile estate was broken and people ran helter-skelter to save their lives thinking they were robbers since they were not in the usual police uniforms.
Hon. Lemachi explained that when they invaded his house, they refused to introduce themselves as they engaged him in a scuffle which consequently dislocated his ankle.
He said he had since been receiving treatment. The businessman said he was claiming more than N10 million for the violation of his fundamental rights.
Hon. Lemachi listed those who invaded his premises as Supal Bala Jonah, Supol Wakama.
He said the five policemen from SARS, Abuja and one Inspector Iwu, from the Special Area Division, Rumuodomaya, Port Harcourt, were the conspirators in the violation of his rights and those of the members of his family.
He named those joined in the said suit as IGP, Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 6, Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Commissioner of Police, SARS, Abuja, Elder Godwin Egonu, Mr. Chika Egonu, Ernest Igwe and Emmanuel Igwe (AKA Spoiler).
Others include: Lucky Igwe, Okujuru Igwe, Elder Cyprian Igwe, Henry Igwe, Okechuakwu Igwe and Omunkwe Igwe.
Hon. Lemachi, who is the applicant in the suit with suit number FHC/PH/FHR/258/2015, said he had duly served the respondents.
He, however, expressed regrets that the police from SARS, Abuja, were still threatening him in spite of the restraining orders from the court.
The businessmen expressed optimism that the Buhari administration would fight impunity.
It will be recalled that the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, in his address to police recently, had warned the police not to get involved in land matters.
However, efforts to get the comments of the Police Public Relations officer, Rivers State, Ahmed Mohammed proved abortive as he could not be reached.

Chidi Enyie

Newly sworn-in Speaker of the 8th Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Ikumyo Ibani (left) listening to the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr Lekie Dumnu (right) during the first sitting of the 8th Assembly last Monday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga