The Police Commissioner in Rivers State, Joseph Mukan, has asked Governor Nyesom Wike to release the former Managing Director of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ms. Joi Nunieh to the Police to answer questions.
But a Rivers State High Court on Friday stopped the Police from arresting or interrogating Nunieh until a substantive suit before it was dealt with.
Mukan’s request, 24 hours after Wike rescued her from armed policemen who stormed her residence to effect her arrest, has sent tongues wagging.
Many are asking whether the Rivers State Government misinformed the public in a statement by its Commissioner of Information when it said the Police High Command in Port Harcourt and Abuja were unaware of an operation to arrest Nunieh?
Or did the Police do a rethink when it issued a statement Friday to say the men who went to Nunieh’s residence had the full backing of the Rivers State Police Commissioner and the Inspector-General’s office?
More questions than answers is what the multi-faceted drama among the National Assembly, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Rivers State Government, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Ms. Joi Nunieh is throwing up.
But the spokesman of the Rivers State Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nnamdi Omoni, says that the policemen who were at the residence of Nunieh were on legitimate duty.
His statement reads: “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to an Online Publication, credited to Vanguardngr.com, where it was erroneously reported that “the MOPOL presence at the residence of Joi Nunieh was not the directive of the Command”
“Ordinarily, such a phantom report should have been ignored but due to the potential danger inherent in keeping silent, the Command is minded to react and state the true position as follows:
1. That the Command is not oblivious of the fact that Social Media is a loose canon, where all manner of things are thrown into.
2. That the Command has maintained steady and harmonious working relationship with the Vanguard Newspapers; being one of the Media Houses that has been consistent in reporting our stories.
3. That the Officers who were at the residence of the former Ag. MD Joi Nunieh were from the IGP Monitoring Team in Abuja and were here on Official assignment.
4. That before they proceeded to her residence, they observed due protocols and requisite standard operating procedures,including going through the processes of arriving themselves at the Headquarters with their Investigation Activities duly signed and approved by the Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G Mukan psc (+)
5. That they went to her residence with Mobile Policemen, suggesting of course that they were there on official duty and not illegal duty as speculated.
6. That, the reference indicating that the Officers were there without the directive of the CP nor the IGP is preposterous and most unfortunate., hence should be discoutenanced and disregarded.
7. That the Command under the watch of CP Joseph G. Mukan psc (+) is poised to deliver quality Policing services that will endure and stand the test of time. The Command will continue to remain firm, focused and will not be distracted by any consideration.”
Recall that on Thursday, an early morning attempt to arrest Nunieh was foiled when she shut herself in before Governor Nyesom Wike used his own official bodyguards to overwhelm the armed police detectives and mobile policemen, and spirited away the embattled former boss of NDDC. He took her away to his Government House residence.
On television on Friday, the Rivers police boss said he had spoken to Wike on the need to have Nunieh released for questioning by the Police.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communucation, Paulinus Nsirim, on Thursday Wike invited the Police chief to investigate what actually happened.
He added: “To storm her residence at such an unholy hour suggests some sinister motive that should not be tolerated.
“What has happened today is a disgrace. Who knows what would have happened to her if they had gained access to her main room? I went there personally to see things for myself and rescued her.
“She is supposed to testify before the House of Representatives Committee and here we are having armed men wanting to abduct her.
“We came out to protect our daughter and we will do so to every Rivers citizen. That is the oath of office I swore to. It doesn’t matter the political affiliation. We will not allow anybody to destroy Rivers state.
“It is so unfortunate and I cry for this country concerning the ways things are going. They didn’t have a warrant of arrest, but would storm somebody’s house, in fact, the State Commissioner of Police is not aware.
”So, tell me how something will happen in a state and the Commissioner of Police is not aware? They said it’s the Inspector General Monitoring Unit.
“So, we have such a unit taking over the responsibility of crime fighting in a state and the Commissioner of Police is not aware? I can also assume too that the Inspector General of Police is not aware. He should investigate it”.
“If there is any allegation of crime against her, I will not back her but you can’t kill her for no established crime. I don’t know who’s responsible but whoever is behind it should not take Rivers state for granted because we will fight back.
“From what has happened now, I want to say that Rivers State is fully out. Anybody who is responsible for this attempted abduction of our daughter, should know that enough is enough.
“They can’t treat her as a common criminal. I am sure that President Muhammadu Buhari is not aware of this.
“All the Niger Delta States should find out if any of their citizens have a hand in the unfortunate incident and call on such people to leave our daughter alone. She is no longer the Managing Director of NDDC.
“The way things are going now, it seems people want to destroy Rivers State and it is unacceptable.
“Using the police to carry out abduction of citizens should not be encouraged. A similar incident had happened in this state before when they wanted to use the same style to abduct a serving Judge”.
On what actually took place, Nunieh said: “Those who told me the Commissioner of Police was downstairs lied because it was his deputy that actually came.
“I opened the door and they wanted to grab me. I pushed back the door and locked it and went upstairs.
“So, my Governor came, asked them for the warrant of arrest and why they did not invite me to the police station instead of attempting to abduct a woman like a criminal.
“The Governor took me away in his car and I am taking refuge in Government House. I want to thank His Excellency for keeping to his word that nothing should happen to a daughter of Rivers State.
“I was supposed to be going to Abuja today to make my submission before the Committee of the House of Representatives. I am sure the motive was to stop me”.