Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike performing the swearing in of the reappointed State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) at the Government House Port Harcourt on Saturday

Okafor  Ofiebor/Port  Harcourt

Former Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dr Chidi Lloyd on Sunday lashed out at Governor Nyesom Wike, asking him not to use his influence to intimidate and stampede the Courts  into convicting him for alleged murder without allowing the due process of the rule of law to take its course.

Lloyd was reacting to the directive handed down to the Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Emmanuel Aguma  (SAN) yesterday by the governor.

While swearing in the commissioner who he reappointed into his cabinet, Wike had asked him to ensure conclusive prosecution of Llyoyd over his use of a mace to attack of another member of Rivers Assembly, Mr Michael Chinda during a fracas on the floor of house  July 9, 2013. The incident happened during a failed attempt to impeach former governor Rotimi Amaechi .

Though Llyod was arrested by the Police after the fracas and arraigned for prosecution on charges of alleged murder, the state government  had entered nolle prosequi (no case submission) in the suit, through Mr Wogu Boms, the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, leading to discharge of Lloyd by the court.

The Wike administration however revived the case as it appealed the discharge of the lawmaker. Thus, Lloyd rereminded Governor Wike in a statement he issued on Sunday that case was already at Court the Appeal.”I am ready for Prosecution by the due process of  the rule of law, but not persecution by the Governor,” the lawmaker said.

Governor Wike also directed the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice to ensure the conclusive prosecution of Mr Ojukaye Flag Amachree who is standing trial for the murder of a citizen of Asari Toru  Local Government Area during one of the rerun  elections.

According to  him, anybody who commits  crime in the state must face the full weight of the law.