From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, yesterday, stopped the Rivers State Government from arresting any member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state perceived as opposition to its leadership.
The restraining order was given by Justice A.T Ibrahim, against the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS), following a motion ex parte filed by some members of the PDP in Rivers.
Justice Ibrahim ordered the Rivers State Government and other respondents in the suit to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case. The case was instituted by the former National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, Senator Lee Maeba, Abiye Sekibo, Senator Geroge Sekibo, Celestine Omehia, Austin Opara, and others.
They accused the Rivers State government of harassing and intimidating their supporters. Recently, some people, who claimed to be members of the Atiku Support Organisation, had alleged that 30 of its members were arrested in the GRA axis of Port Harcourt while in a meeting to prepare for the proposed campaign visit of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to Rivers State.
Over 20 of those arrested were later arraigned in a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt presided over by the Chief Magistrate, Collins Ali.
The court, after refusing bail applications by the defence counsel, directed that the suspects be remanded in the Correctional Centre, before adjourning the proceedings to March 22, 2023, for bail consideration.
Meanwhile, the state police command, through its spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the hoodlums were suspected cultists arrested by operatives during raids of criminal hideouts in two different locations.