Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have called on Governor Similayi Fubara to charge 23 former local government chairmen in Rivers State loyal to the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike for treason.
The opposition lawmakers maintained that the ex-council chairmen’s attempt to forcefully retain their seats after the constitutional expiration of their three years tenure was treasonable.
The opposition lawmakers under the umbrella of G60 disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing a press conference after an emergency meeting in Abuja.
They also commended Fubara and the citizens of Rivers State for resisting the attempt by disgruntled elements to take over the administration of local government councils in breach of the law.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere accused the former local government chairmen of breaching the provisions of Section 37(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Section 39 of the Nigeria Police Act, Section 12 of the Criminal Code Act, Section 23 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 1(2) of the constitution that frowns at anybody or group of persons that attempts to unlawfully occupy position of power in the country or forcefully attempts to take over government in any part of Nigeria.
Ugochinyere stated: “We salute the courage of the Rivers State people who came out boldly to protect the local government and foil the attempt to unlawfully seize the institution of governance by the former chairmen.
“This heroic action is in line with section 20 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act that empowers citizens to arrest and foil any criminal act being committed in their presence.”
Ugochinyere added that Section 39 of the Nigeria Police Act of 2020 states that “a private person may arrest a suspect in Nigeria who in his presence commits an offence or whom he reasonably suspects of having committed an offence for which the police is entitled to arrest without a warrant”.
He called on the judiciary to remain vigilant in curbing the activities of persons desperate to take over institutions of governance in Rivers State or any part of the country.