The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lloyd

  • Rivers Crisis: Police fail to arraign Lloyd

    Rivers Crisis: Police fail to arraign Lloyd

    The scheduled arraignment of the Majority Leader of the Rivers state House of Assembly Chidi Lloyd in a state High Court in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday was stalled by the Police.

    The lawmaker representing Emouha Local Government Area in the House was to take plea his on the six-count charge filed against him by the police, over his alleged role in the July 9 fracas in the House of Assembly. But the police failed to produce him.

    Beluolisa Nwofor (SAN) expressed displeasure before the court presided over by Justice L.L.Nyordee.

    Nwofor told the court that the hearing notice was issued to both the police and the complainants (the state PDP) and evidence of proof of service endorsed and returned.

    He said the police by their action have, the provisions of Section 215 of the criminal procedure law, which lays on the prosecution the duty to produce accused persons in court to answer their charges; and the new practice direction by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, particularly Section 7, which was meant to ensure fair, impartial and speedy dispensation of justice.

    Nwofor urged the court to adjourn the case till today and order the police to produce Lloyd in court today to take his plea.

    He told the court that should the police fail to bring Lloyd to the court today, he would file an application asking the court to strike out the charge against him, sue the police for malicious prosecution.

    He told the court that his client has since July 23 been under police detention and torture without bringing him to court.

    In his ruling, Justice Nyordee assured that his court is a court of no sentiment. He told the SAN that his adjournment till today will be for the accused person to take his plea and not for bail application.

    He reminded the counsel that the parties according to the rules of the court, have 48 hours to respond to a hearing notice.

    He insisted that hearing notices were served on the parties on Monday by a chief sheriff of the high court and one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) received and signed for the police.

    He said a fresh hearing notice would be issued and served on them yesterday to appear before the court today. The matter could be adjourned till tomorrow for bail application.

    “In the light of the fore-going, I order that a fresh hearing notice be issued on the prosecution for the production of the accused person for his plea tomorrow(today).

    “I also order that the hearing notice be served on the prosecution today (yesterday). I adjourn the case till 11 am tomorrow July 31, for plea.

    However, the PDP, in a statement, accused Governor Chibuike Amaechi of undue influence on the court, with the view to upturn justice in the matter.

    The party said “The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned in very strong terms the attempt to arm twist the court to let the former Leader of the state House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, who is currently facing six-count charge of attempted murder on the life of Hon Michael Chinda, off the hook by the state government on the instructions of Governor Amaechi.

    “The party, therefore, urges all interested parties in the matter, as the case comes up tomorrow Wednesday July 31, 2013, to thread with caution, saying it’ll take exception to any attempt no matter who is involved to reduce the sanctity of human life to mere political chess game.”

    It said justice should follow its natural course if the already over-heated polity will not degenerate.

    Nwofor said: “In the first place Chidi Lloyd was declared wanted by the Police. He voluntarily submitted himself to the Police Headquarters.

    “Eventually, he was detained beyond the 24 hours allowed by Section 35(5), of the constitution, and today (yesterday), is the 7th day, and the court yesterday (Monday), the police prosecutor from Abuja filed the charges and the Chief Judge has it to a Judge, and he listed the matter today (yesterday), for plea, for him to plead guilty or not guilty, that is what we are here for today (yesterday).

    “Hearing notice has been served on them, what we have now; Police have not been able to produce Chidi Lloyd in court.”

    Asked what happens if they still fail to produce him in court today, he said: “If the accused is not produced tomorrow, I will apply that the charges be struck out and we will sue for malicious prosecution.”

     

  • Lawmakers insist Lloyd was tortured

    Lawmakers insist Lloyd was tortured

    •Release our son, his community cries out

    The pro-Amaechi lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday dismissed the claim by the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, that the Leader of the Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, was not tortured in his custody.

    They asked the Force Headquarters, especially the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate what happened to the leader of Rivers Assembly, after he was moved from Abuja to Port Harcourt on Friday.

    Deputy Speaker Leyii Kwaneesaid in Port Harcourt yesterday said Mbu’s “insincere” defence was face-saving.

    Kwanee said: “We (26 pro-Amaechi lawmakers) call on the Force Headquarters, Abuja to investigate what happened on the arrival of Hon. Chidi Lloyd to Port Harcourt. It is not enough for the police in Abuja to say they treated him well.

    “Reports available to us show that Hon. Lloyd was treated with disrespect and his rights violated. The reports filtering from the custody are being digested, to enable a team of lawyers push the case to the ECOWAS Court, to enforce Hon. Lloyd’s fundamental human rights.

    “The idea of going to the International Court is based on the fear that Hon. Chidi Lloyd may not obtain justice in Nigeria, considering the powerful interests in the matter.

    “The torture meted to the House leader is a custodial crime, for which any police officer involved must be punished. The torture of Hon. Lloyd runs foul to the 1984 international convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”

    The deputy leader also assured the family, friends and supporters of the Rivers Assembly’s leader that the House would leave no stone unturned to enforce and protect his fundamental human rights.

    Also yesterday, Chief and elders of Akpabu Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, the home town of Lloyd, condemned his detention.

    The Council of Chiefs, the Community Development Committee (CDC), youths and women of Akpabu called for his immediate release.

    They also warned that if anything happens to the lawmaker representing their constituency, the people of Akpabu and the Emohua constituency will be at war with the police and its agents.

    The community wondered why their son should be made a scapegoat in the crisis that engulfed the two factions at the Rivers State House of Assembly, pointing out that the House Leader acted in defence.

    The chairman of Akpabu Council of Chiefs, Chief Patrick Dike, called for his unconditional release.

    Dike said: “The people of Akpabu community, who include the Chiefs, Elders, women and youths are calling on the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police to leave our son alone; we want him to be release immediately.

    “If anything happens to him, we will go to war, because in our tradition no one kills the son of the soil and go free. Chidi has empowered many youths in this community, including bringing infrastructural development in the area. This is to say that we are happy about his achievement and we are in support of hm. “

    Speaking on behalf of the youths of the area, the President of Concerned Citizen of Akpabu, Okechukwu Geoffrey, said the crisis in Rivers State will soon turn to ethnic war.

    “The pains of Chidi Lloyd in the recent crisis are the pains of the youths of Akapbu Community. I hope the President is aware that this crisis is heading to ethnic war.

    “With the great support of Chief Stephen Agi, Bright Nlerem and Robinson Amadi, we are confident that we are going monitor the movement of Hon. Lloyd in the hand of the Police. We are going to mobilise our youths to support him in court.”