PORT HARCOURT — Pro-Governor Rotimi Amaechi members of Rivers State House of Assembly, have threatened to drag the Nigerian Police to the International Court of Justice over alleged torture and continued detention of the Leader of the House, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, claiming that he is going blind because of his continued incarceration.
A statement by the lawmakers, alleged that Mr. Llyod, who was brought into Port Harcourt last Friday amid tight security was tortured and manhandled by the Police.
The lawmakers, who questioned why the Police had to allegedly chain and blindfold their leader, condemned the alleged actions of the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu.
They also said Mbu should be held responsible, if anything happened to Lloyd.
Lloyd is being held for his alleged role in the attack on Mr. Micael Chinda, member representing Obia/Akpor II in the state Assembly. He has since been flown abroad for medical attention.
Meanwhile, the Police Force Headquarters, yesterday, said that it had uncovered an influx of heavy arms into Rivers State and plans to rob some banks.
In a statement by the Force Spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, read: “Following an extensive intelligence operation, the Rivers State Police Command in the early hours of Friday, July 26, 2013 aborted a planned robbery attack targeted at one of the leading commercial banks in the state.”
On the seized arms, he said, “the cache of weapons was recovered from three vehicles hidden at a mechanic village in Ihugbo on the East-West Road, Ahoada, Rivers State.
The weapons recovered include two General Purpose Machine Guns, GPMG with 59 rounds of GPMG ammunition; eight AK–47 rifles with 1635 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and 57 magazines.
Others included one G3 rifle with magazine; two dynamites with detonators and other explosives canes; two gas cylinders with welding accessories; one sledge hammer, one axe and three vehicles in which the weapons were concealed.”
Briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday, on behalf of other lawmakers on the fate of Lloyd, Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Leyii Kwanee, said, “you all can recall that Chidi Lloyd, who reported himself at the Force Headquarters, Abuja was sneaked into Port Harcourt on Friday and we thought he would be charged to court same day.
“As I speak to you, we have just been informed that he is being held at the Force CID by the same police authority under Commissioner Joseph Mbu.
The Deputy Speaker said recent under-currents in the polity and Rivers State indicated that embattled Commissioner of Police, Mbu would soon be removed from the state.
“We expect Mbu to be on his way out of Rivers State any moment from now. If you observed, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro left this arena a while ago.|”
“He has been in the state to see things for himself.” Don’t forget, the Senate has also recommended for Mbu’s removal. We expect that the decision of the Senate, the highest lawmaking body in country should be respected.”
Similarly, he said the recent reconciliatory committee on the crises in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, might not achieve much.
According to him: “You know that apart from the Chairmanship of Dickson, two members of that committee are against the government of Rotimi Amaechi. I think that committee is not intended to serve the party.”
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