Rivers State House of Assembly which has been involved in five months crisis is likely to resume sitting soon, if the 31 lawmakers comply with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.
In a letter signed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, John Amadi, on behalf of the commissioner of police, and sent to the Clerk of the House, “requested that all the legislators should report to the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, CID, where each member of the House will sign an undertaking, that they will conduct themselves in an orderly manner, when they resume sitting”.
The commissioner of police stated that although he has not received a Certified True Copy, CTC, of the judgment delivered by Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Wednesday, December 11, that declared that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly should resume sitting, he has, however, given directive that the premises of the House of Assembly be thoroughly inspected.
“The Commissioner of Police directs the Explosive Ordinance Disposal, EOD, Unit, Dog sniffing Unit, and the C4I Unit, to carry out thorough security inspection and sweeping of the entire premises of the Rivers State House of Assembly, in preparation for resumption of legislative duties,” the letter stated.
The commissioner of police further requested the clerk of the House to “grant the security agents, the usual cooperation, in the discharge of their assignment.”
The commissioner of police had on Thursday, December 12, and Friday, December 13, refused to allow the lawmakers into the House of Assembly complex. The police had cordoned off the House from both ends of Moscow Road.
Mbu declared then that he was yet to be presented with a copy of the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed at the federal high court in Abuja. Mbu told the press on Friday last week that the police will sweep the premises of the House before the commencement of sitting.
He also said that each lawmaker would be thoroughly screened before being allowed to enter into the Assembly complex. In tune with Mbu’s assertion, security arrived the House of Assembly complex as early as 6.30am, on Tuesday.
The team comprised of the Explosive Ordinance Unit, Dog Sniffing Unit and the C4I Unit. Some Israeli intelligence officers were also seen conducting intensive searches at the premises of the House.