Rivers Crisis: Court Won't Interfere Chidi Lloyd's Arrest Now

A Nigerian high court in Port Harcourt has rejected moves by leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd to stop the police from arresting him for interrogation over attempted murder charges against him.

Chidi Lloyd was declared wanted by the police over his role in the battering of a lawmaker Michael Okechukwu Chinda during the violence that broke out on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Chidi Lloyd went to court to ask the Police not to arrest him pending the determination of a motion he filed challenging the planned arrest.

However Justice E. Teetito in his ruling said it is proper to put the police on notice before granting such an order due to the nature of the relief sought by Chidi Lloyd in the matter.

The court therefore directed the counsel to Chidi Lloyd to put the police on notice and adjourn the matter till July 25th for hearing.

In another development, the 26 Lawmakers in the state, loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi have warned one of the renegade members – Evans Bapakaye Bipi to desist from impersonating the Speaker of the House, Otelemaba Amachree.

The lawmakers made the declaration in a press statement signed by all the 26 members stating the position of the majority of members on the recent crisis that rocked the Assembly.

The statement chronicled the events leading to the purported impeachment claimed by the five renegade members of the House and urged the public to disregard the false claims.

The Lawmakers explained that the leadership received a communication from the Executive to amend the Rivers State Appropriation Law 2013.

Sequel to this, the House reconvened on 9 July, 2013.

According to them, following the reconvening of the House, five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (Evans Bipi, Okechukwu Michael Chinda, Kelechi Nwogu, Victor Ihunwo and Martins Amaewhule) in alliance with the Rivers State Police Command and their thugs, carried out unprovoked attack and assault on members including the Speaker (Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree), the Leader of the House (Hon. Chidi Lloyd) and Hon. Wanjoku Chikere Azubuike.

Thereafter they made a spirited but unsuccessful attempt to impeach the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in obvious disregard of the amplifying procedures set out in section 92 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Order 12 and Order 28 of the standing orders of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

They pointed out that since the botched impeachment attempt, Evans Bipi has been surreptitiously impersonating the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly in defiance and gross violation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has gone ahead to make publications in the national media.

“We hereby call on the public to disregard the Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi and his alleged fallacies which are targeted at misinforming the general public.” the statement read.

On the suspension of Obio/Akpor local Government, the lawmakers explained that the State Assembly acted within its powers when it suspended the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council which is believed to be one of the underlying issues fuelling the crisis.

“In compliance with our legislative duties, we have had cause to vote on motions, bills and resolutions that have impacted positively on the citizens of Rivers state, and if a tiny minority of 5 out of 32 members have dissenting views, that does not impugn on the views of the majority.”

The lawmakers expressed their continued support for the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree and the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.The statement was signed by Honourables Golden Ngozi Chioma; Innocent B. Barikor; Josiah John Olu; Ibiso Nwuche; Belema Okpokiri; Legbosi Nwidadah; Andrew Anderson Miller; Augustine Ngo; Ben Horsfall; Okechukwu Nwaogu; Victor Amadi; Azubike Chikere Wanjoku; Victoria Nyeche; Benibo Anabraba; Irene Inimgba; Felicia Barizasi-Tane; Aye Atamah Pepple; Onari Brown; Gift Wokocha; Ewor Nname Robinson; Lucky Odili; Chidi Julius Lloyd; Chigbo Eligwe; Leyii Kwanee; Tonye Harry and the Speaker Otelemaba Amachree.