News
RSG Blames APC Over Violence At Court
The Rivers State Government says the All Progressives Congress (APC) penchant to violate the sanctity of court environment and unleash violence on innocent people without provocation was becoming an embarrassing ritual whenever they have a case in court.
A statement issued by Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Barrister Emma Okah says the show of shame, last Wednesday, by the APC at the Port Harcourt Division of Court of Appeal was ‘one too many’.
“The APC in Rivers State have not learnt their lessons from their past show of disrespect to the court. To them, nothing is sacred and no institution deserves respects”, Okah said, noting that “this criminality must stop.
“Their invasion of courts in Port Harcourt today (Wednesday) is in line with their character of hooliganism and wanton disrespect for the courts.
“What were thugs hired by APC doing in the Court of Appeal to disrupt lawyers involved in their association’s activities”, Okah asked.
“The issue of boycott of court by lawyers is an internal affair of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). It has nothing to do with the APC which has suddenly become the mouth-piece of the Judiciary.
According to Okah, Rivers State Government cannot stoop low to show disrespect to the court, and warned APC members with thirst for violence to grow up and act mature, noting that if the courts feel offended, they have powers to protect themselves.
“Lawyers in Rivers State were at will to lend compliance to their association’s directives and APC thugs have no business assaulting them.
“Lawyers are responsible men and would not lend themselves to violence and the APC is warned to respect the rights of others.
“True to type, the APC in Rivers State has a sad notoriety of disrupting court sessions. In Rivers State, the courts were shut down for over a year in 2014, and not long ago, a faction of the APC stormed the Port Harcourt High Court premises and prevented judges and litigants from assessing the courts on that day.
“Notwithstanding this provocation, Rivers State Government will continue to frown at the continued interference in judicial processes by the APC.
“Finally, we urge the security agencies to call the APC members on violence spree to order and bring violators to book”, Okah added.
It would be recalled that the sacked Rivers State APC Governorship Candidate, Arch Tonye Cole and the sacked factional candidate of the Rivers State APC South-East Senatorial District, Amb Oji Ngofa, had allegedly led armed thugs to invade the premises of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, where they beat the Port Harcourt NBA Chairman, Barrister Sylvester Adaka to a pulp.
The factional Rivers State APC thugs, in company of Cole and Ngofa, also manhandled several lawyers on ground to enforce the NBA order for legal practitioners to boycott courts for two days.
The Tide learnt that the lawyers were in court over the directive of the NBA for all lawyers to boycott courts over the illegal suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“On Wednesday, officials of the Port Harcourt Branch of the NBA moved from court to court to enforce the NBA order. On sighting them, the APC leaders unleashed their thugs and disrupted the process,” an eyewitness account said.
Inside the court, five of APC matters were listed for mention.
In one of the matters, the APC sought for stay of execution on the judgment of Justice Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.
Lawyer to Senator Magnus Abe and others, Henry Bello asked the court to adjourn the matter in view of the NBA order to lawyers over the illegal suspension of the CJN.
Also, Counsel to PDP, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) urged the court to adjourn the matter due to the directive of the NBA.
But the Presiding Judge, Justice Gumel said he would not respect the NBA directive.
“It was at this point that the Port Harcourt NBA officials attempted to explain the need for adjournment to the court, before they were dragged out by Cole’s thugs and beaten up in the presence of the sacked Rivers State APC Governorship Candidate,” eyewitnesses said.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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