Rivers crisis: Lawyer demands Okocha’s arrest over alleged treasonable offence
A lawyer and public commentator, Justice Osai Ahiakwo has called on the law enforcement agencies to arrest and try Mr Tony Okocha, acting chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State for allegedly committing treasonable offense.
Okocha had called on the 27 APC lawmakers in the state House of Assembly to commence impeachment processes against Gov Sim Fubara.
However, the lawyer described it as a treasonable offence.
In a statement issued in Calabar, capital of Cross River State, the lawyer said, “it is vexatious to hear Tony Okocha describe the Rivers State Governor as a dunderhead.
“It is even more annoying to hear the said Okocha calling on ‘lawbreakers’ to commence the impeachment process against the Executive Governor of Rivers State.”
Ahiakwo said that Okocha’s statement was inciting and capable of causing public disobedience.
He argued that “those Okocha supposedly referred to as Assembly members had ceased to be legislators after they moved from PDP to APC. It is not the Governor that said they don’t exist but the Constitution of Nigeria.
“Apart from sponsoring bills to give life to their already dead political structure like the very unpopular and unconstitutional extension of the lifespan of local government area chairmen in office, there are no meaningful and/or people-orienting bills that have been moved to benefit the masses.
“As they are known for circumventing the laws of Nigeria, let it be on record that the Chief Judge of Rivers State will never and can never be part of any form of illegality perpetrated by the lawbreakers masquerading as House of Assembly members.
“Tony Okocha’s statement is a call for anarchy, which will breed a breakdown of law and order.
“By the provisions of Section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the legislative arm of government in Rivers State is non-existent.”
Ahiakwo cautioned Okocha and his party leaders against quoting and interpreting the laws to suit their whims and caprices, insisting that the Governor has to defend the spirit and letters of the constitution.
