Embattled Nigerian Lawmaker Chidi Llyod Granted Bail As Court Query Unlawful Detention
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A local Division High Court has granted the detained leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, bail and ordered the police to immediately release him from two weeks’ incarceration.
But the Felix Obuah-led faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement in Port Harcourt expressed shock over the bail, stressing that it was a vindication of its fear that Michael Chindah would not get justice in the state.
Besides, the judicial commission of inquiry into the imbroglio in the Assembly has implored all factions in the crisis to immediately end hostilities.
One of Lloyd’s counsel, Mr. Emenike Ebete, disclosed that they had filed an application at the court presided over by Justice Charles Wali, seeking to enforce the fundamental human rights of the lawmaker whom the police have slammed with a six-count charge which includes attempted murder.
Wali’s decision to grant Lloyd bail was predicated on the conviction that the police had held him in detention for two weeks without arraignment and that his health was fast- deteriorating based on the medical report tendered by his doctor to the court.
The judge ordered that the police should never re-arrest Lloyd once he had been released from detention pending the determination of his application on August 12.
At the time of filing this report, Lloyd’s counsel were on the way back to Port Harcourt to serve the police the order.
But the Special Adviser on Media to the state PDP, Jerry Needam, described the bail and order stopping further arrest and prosecution of Lloyd as a travesty of justice.
Needam queried the logic behind the order in a case properly brought before another judge of co-ordinate jurisdiction in Port Harcourt who is handling the matter and has adjourned it to August 6, 2013.
His words: “This has confirmed its earlier claim and fear that Governor Amaechi and his cohorts are doing all within their power, using his office to want to let Chidi Lloyd off the hook while his victim, Michael Chindah, is dying in a London hospital.
“Why run to far away Ahoada when the offence for which Honourable Lloyd was arrested was committed in Port Harcourt?”
The party, he said, had therefore urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to immediately begin an investigation into Wali’s activities with a view to unearthing the reasons behind the order.
At its inaugural public sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday, the chairman of the nine-man commission, Justice B. A. Georgewill, assured every person affected that they would discharge the task without fear or favour, to the end that justice and truth shall be achieved.
Georgewill said that all parties in the July 9 and 10 crisis that rocked the state following a futile effort by five lawmakers in the 32-member House to impeach the Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree, shall be treated fairly in all the proceedings before the commission.
He explained that the commission shall on the proved facts of the matter as shall be shown by concrete evidence before it make recommendations that would bring about lasting peace to the Assembly.
According to him, every person found culpable on the concrete facts as may be proved before the commission, no matter his status, shall be apportioned blame and relevant recommendations made.
Georgewill vowed that the commission would be impartial on the facts and circumstances leading to the crisis.
The panel adjourned till August 12 and has extended the date for the submission of memoranda to this date.
Yesterday too, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt issued a definite order to the police to produce Lloyd in court on August 7 to face trial.
The court, presided over by Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, issued the order yesterday following the failure of the police to bring Lloyd to court.
The police counsel, Chika Denwigwe, said they could not bring Lloyd to court yesterday because of a pending case on a similar matter before a state high court. He said the police had filed a counter-application challenging the jurisdiction of the federal high court to hear the case brought by some human rights lawyers on behalf of Lloyd.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, visited Port Harcourt yesterday. But he did not go to the Government House and the state police command.
Abubakar received over 100 vehicles fitted with sophisticated communication gadgets. They were donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Besides, the judicial commission of inquiry into the imbroglio in the Assembly has implored all factions in the crisis to immediately end hostilities.
One of Lloyd’s counsel, Mr. Emenike Ebete, disclosed that they had filed an application at the court presided over by Justice Charles Wali, seeking to enforce the fundamental human rights of the lawmaker whom the police have slammed with a six-count charge which includes attempted murder.
Wali’s decision to grant Lloyd bail was predicated on the conviction that the police had held him in detention for two weeks without arraignment and that his health was fast- deteriorating based on the medical report tendered by his doctor to the court.
The judge ordered that the police should never re-arrest Lloyd once he had been released from detention pending the determination of his application on August 12.
At the time of filing this report, Lloyd’s counsel were on the way back to Port Harcourt to serve the police the order.
But the Special Adviser on Media to the state PDP, Jerry Needam, described the bail and order stopping further arrest and prosecution of Lloyd as a travesty of justice.
Needam queried the logic behind the order in a case properly brought before another judge of co-ordinate jurisdiction in Port Harcourt who is handling the matter and has adjourned it to August 6, 2013.
His words: “This has confirmed its earlier claim and fear that Governor Amaechi and his cohorts are doing all within their power, using his office to want to let Chidi Lloyd off the hook while his victim, Michael Chindah, is dying in a London hospital.
“Why run to far away Ahoada when the offence for which Honourable Lloyd was arrested was committed in Port Harcourt?”
The party, he said, had therefore urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to immediately begin an investigation into Wali’s activities with a view to unearthing the reasons behind the order.
At its inaugural public sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday, the chairman of the nine-man commission, Justice B. A. Georgewill, assured every person affected that they would discharge the task without fear or favour, to the end that justice and truth shall be achieved.
Georgewill said that all parties in the July 9 and 10 crisis that rocked the state following a futile effort by five lawmakers in the 32-member House to impeach the Speaker, Otelemaba Amachree, shall be treated fairly in all the proceedings before the commission.
He explained that the commission shall on the proved facts of the matter as shall be shown by concrete evidence before it make recommendations that would bring about lasting peace to the Assembly.
According to him, every person found culpable on the concrete facts as may be proved before the commission, no matter his status, shall be apportioned blame and relevant recommendations made.
Georgewill vowed that the commission would be impartial on the facts and circumstances leading to the crisis.
The panel adjourned till August 12 and has extended the date for the submission of memoranda to this date.
Yesterday too, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt issued a definite order to the police to produce Lloyd in court on August 7 to face trial.
The court, presided over by Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, issued the order yesterday following the failure of the police to bring Lloyd to court.
The police counsel, Chika Denwigwe, said they could not bring Lloyd to court yesterday because of a pending case on a similar matter before a state high court. He said the police had filed a counter-application challenging the jurisdiction of the federal high court to hear the case brought by some human rights lawyers on behalf of Lloyd.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, visited Port Harcourt yesterday. But he did not go to the Government House and the state police command.
Abubakar received over 100 vehicles fitted with sophisticated communication gadgets. They were donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
