Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State has taken a swipe at the Nigeria Police Special Joint Investigation Panel on Rivers Rerun, stating that the panel was out to witch-hunt people.
Recall that the police had set up an investigative panel to look into the outbreak of violence in the just concluded rerun elections in the state.
On January 6, 2016, the NPF had dismissed an Inspector and five sergeants attached to Wike for engaging in unprofessional acts during the rerun.
Wike, had, however insisted his administration will not be part of the probe and the All Progressives Congress, APC, had called on the Federal Government to sanction Wike over his refusal to appear before the Police panel.
But in a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the state Governor, Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, and made available to DAILY POST, Wike said the Panel was biased with an agenda targeted at the PDP and her members, while shielding policemen allegedly used by the APC to commit electoral fraud.
He said the panel was established by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, with a predetermined goal to assist the All Progressives Congress at the Election Tribunal.
He, however, announced that the State Government has challenged the setting up of the panel in court, with the chairman of the panel, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damian Okoro as one of the defendants; hence the people of the state will not participate in the activities of the panel.
The statement said, “I must tell you with all honesty that my people and I will not participate in the sitting of this panel. We have challenged the setting up of this panel in court.
“Let there be a judicial pronouncement on this matter. It will enrich our jurisprudence. This panel has not shown us that it will not be biased.
“All these activities are orchestrated so that APC will use the materials there at the Tribunal.
“Even you as the chairman of the panel cannot say from your conscience that you are biased.”
The governor regretted that the Police High Command attempted to deny video evidence of the invasion of Rivers East Senatorial District Collation by Akin Fakorede and his SARS personnel, wondering why the Police has refused to make public how DSP Alkali was killed, simply because the person indicted was a commissioner under the Minister of Transportation.
“The same Akin Fakorede who was caught on video after he invaded the Rivers East Senatorial is the one who is arranging witnesses for the panel set up by the Inspector-General of Police.
“Nobody is investigating the case of Rivers APC printing fake result sheets which the police is trying to sweep under the carpet, otherwise, why would the Inspector General of Police set up a panel, when he had already made conclusions as enunciated in his letter to the Rivers State Governor?
“The Inspector-General of Police knew those who perpetrated the crime during the rerun legislative elections, why did he go ahead to set up a panel.
“We believe that the Panel has already taken a decision. We are convinced that the essence of the panel is to witch-hunt our people and we have evidence to show. We cannot because of one man’s interest, destroy the state.
“Already, you have dismissed policemen attached to me without even hearing from me. This is the same panel that claims it is investigating the conduct of all policemen during the rerun legislative elections.”
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