Convoy clash: Wike’s outrider, other Policemen face sack

Thursday, November 16, 2017 8:30 am

Scene of the clash with the outrider (right) in helmet being held back from going near Amaechi’s vehicle

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Police outrider for the convoy of Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike who was at the centre of the traffic altercation between the security details of the governor and Chibuike Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation at Trans-Amadi axis of Port Harcourt last Saturday is among police men arrested and currently undergoing orderly room trial over the controversial clash, it has been gathered.

It was also learnt that he may be sacked from the Police if found guilty by the Rivers Police command investigating panel after orderly room trial.

Nnamdi Omoni, the spokesman for the Rivers Police Command confirmed this while denying the speculation by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that the outrider had already been dismissed on the directives of the Inspector General of Police.

The Police Public Relations Officer clarified that the Governor’s Outrider need not be dismissed on the special directive from the IGP because the “dismissal or sanctioning of any Policemen of the rank and file is within the powers of the Commissioner of Police after passing through investigation and trial as obtainable in the Police Force”

However, Emma Okah, Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communcations had in a statement said the findings of the Rivers state Police Command led by Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed on the clash was biased and allegedly based on a script written the Special Anti-Robbery Squad Commander Akin Fakorede, who the state government claims is a personal friend of Amaechi.

Okah claimed that the plans to allegedly eliminate Governor Wike was in its final stage and that the traffic issue was premedidated.

He further claimed that the Rivers Police command never investigated the incident but adopted a script allegedly written by Fakorede.

However, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and former spokesman for the Rivers Police command, Dr Uche Mike Chukwuma, blamed the incident on the unprofessional manner the security aides of both Wike and Amaechi handled the traffic incident.

The retired ACP also blamed the elders, church leaders and statesmen of Rivers state for keeping quiet while the political disagreement between Amaechi and Wike are allowed to degenerate.

Meanwhile,the Rivers Police Command has also disclosed that three members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, who allegedly shot dead three members of a vigilance group in Luewe community in Khana local government in Ogoniland for challenging them for an alleged illegal duties of escorting a Petroleum tanker have been apprehended.

Omoni disclosed that the CP Zaki Ahmed ordered for their arrest to allow for thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to death of the three youths.