CSOs unseal Peace Corps house

There was a drama yesterday as some members of civil society organisations  (CSOs) in Abuja yesterday enforced the judgment of a Federal High Court against the Police by unsealing the corporate head office of the Peace Corps of Nigeria.

The place had been sealed by police since February.

But Justice Gabriel Kolawale of the Federal High Court, Abuja in a November 9 judgment ordered the police “to unseal and vacate the office with immediate effect”.

The judge also imposed a fine of N12.5 million on police for breaching the fundamental rights of the Peace Corps National Commandant, Ambassador Dickson Akoh and 49 others with unlawful arrest and detention.

However, following the refusal of police to obey the court order, 15 civil groups stormed the premises at No 59, Iya Abubakar Crescent, Abuja and opened the office.

Led by a legal practitioner and President of Lawyer Integrity Crusade Network, Mr. Edward Omaga, the groups, which were armed with the court order, told the policemen, who barricaded the gate that they were there to enforce a valid court order.

Without resistance, an unmarked Honda Bullet car used by police to block the gate was driven to another location by a policeman.

After the members of coalition entered the premises, one of the officers contacted the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command on phone on the development.

This led to deployment of about 100 fully armed policemen to the scene.

The armed policemen, led by an Assistant Police Commissioner, Danlami Yusuf Taura, on arrival, summoned the leader of the groups for explanation on their mission.

He was told by Omaga that they were there to enforce a lawful court order.

To justify their action, he presented a copy of the court order to the police boss and also drew his attention to another copy pasted on the gate of the Peace Corps house by the Federal High Court.

ACP Taura attempted to defend police with a claim that they have up to seven days’ grace to unseal the office.

But Omaga drew his attention to a portion of the court order that police must vacate it immediately.

Another claim by the ACP that the Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT Command had not been served with the court order was also punctured by Omaga, who drew his attention to the acknowledgement of the service of the court order on the Inspector General

At the time of this report, there was no fracas between the groups and the policemen drafted to the premises.

Omaga, thanking his colleagues for their courage in defending the rule of law, announced that the Peace Corps house has been unsealed incompliance with the court order.

He added that officials and the workers of the Peace Corps are expected to resume work in the office today unhindered by the police or any other security agents.

A statement signed by leaders of the 15 groups condemned Inspector General Ibrahim Idris for showing disrespect to the court order.

Omaga, who read the statement, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to call the IG to order so as to prevent him from instigating the masses against the Federal Government.

The civil groups leader called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN to use his office as chief law officer of the federation to compel those in authorities to always respect court orders in the interest of justice.

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