Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to charge 23 former local government chairmen in Rivers State, who are loyal to the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, with treason.
The opposition lawmakers argue that the ex-council chairmen’s attempt to forcefully retain their seats after the constitutional expiration of their three-year tenure constitutes a treasonable act.
The lawmakers, under the umbrella of G60, made this call on Tuesday during a press conference following an emergency meeting in Abuja.
They commended Governor Fubara and the citizens of Rivers State for resisting the attempts by what they described as disgruntled elements to unlawfully take over the administration of local government councils.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere accused the former local government chairmen of violating several legal provisions, including 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, which prohibit any person or group from unlawfully occupying positions of power or attempting to forcibly take over government.
“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,” Ugochinyere stated.
“This heroic action is in line with Section 20 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, which empowers citizens to arrest and foil any criminal act being committed in their presence.”
He further noted 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 are entitled to arrest without a warrant.”
Ugochinyere urged the judiciary to remain vigilant in curbing the activities of those desperate to take over institutions of governance in Rivers State or any part of the country.
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