Anita Ogona
A Human Rights Group, the International human rights protection initiative has threatened a legal actions against Nigerian Police and Inspector general of Police over continuous blocking of the entrance of twenty three Local Government council Secretariat in Rivers State.
The group in a letter address to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, KAYODE EGBETOKUN, express their deep concern regarding the action by the Nigeria police force, which they claimed appears to be unlawful and contrary to several constitutional and statutory provisions guiding norms of the existence of Nigeria as a Nation.
According to the letter signed by the State Coordinator of the group, JOHN IHUA insisted that section 7 of the 1999 constitution as amended guarantee the existence and functions of Local government councils, hence the continuous closure of the local government council by the police disrupt it’s constitutionality and the principle of local government councils as enshrined in the constitution.
IHUA while explaining the reason the their actions, said it is important to remind the IGP that under the Nigeria police Act, 2020. provided the framework for the conduct and duties of the Nigeria police force to be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the protection of life and property, and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged.
IHUA in the letter also reminded the police that the continuous Lock of the local government councils in Rivers state has far-reaching adverse effects on the masses, particularly the local government workers and residents dependent on council services, describing the action as unlawful, unconstitutional and abuse of power.
The State coordinator of the International human rights protection initiative while expressing hope that the IGP will not allow their actions to become part of judicial interpretation, caution that failure of the police authority to act promptly would result to legal actions for the interpretation of the law and orders.
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