From Lawrence Chudi, Awka
Traders, under the aegis of Amawbia Market Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATA), Anambra State, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest against alleged harassment and intimidation of their elected officers by certain individuals.
The angry protesters marched to the Anambra Police Headquarters, bearing placards with varying inscriptions including, “Our matter is in court, let court decide”; “Deputy Speaker is sponsoring crisis in Eke Amawbia market”; “Police please stop Deputy Speaker from interfering and causing crisis in our market,” among others.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, Counsel to the association, Chibuzo Ezenwa, alleged that the influential individuals, with the backing of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, were disrupting their activities, using the instrumentality of force.
He said: “Despite pending lawsuits they filed against the President, Daniel Nwokoye, they still went ahead to harass him and members of his executive, using police to stop him from carrying out his lawful duties. The marketers are not happy with the directives of the DCP in charge of state CID, coupled with the fact that the people masterminding the crisis are using armed men to invade the market.
“They first filed a lawsuit at the Awka Magistrates’ Court, praying the court to stop the president from parading himself and carrying out his duty, including holding any form of meeting. Again, they proceeded to the National Industrial Court and filed a same suit, which is an abuse of court process.
“Meanwhile, the association filed its own suit against the purported suspension letter issued by the Transitional Committee Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, alleging suspension of the president. We’re saying the TC chairman has no power under any written law to suspend the president.”
Responding through one of his officers, Ibrahim Ezekiel, the Commissioner of Police, Adeoye Aderemi, commended them for their peaceful disposition devoid of violence, and assured that there will soon be an amicable resolution of the matter.