Police comb Rivers Assembly ahead of sitting

RIVERS State Police Command, yesterday, combed the state House of Assembly complex for materials that could pose a threat to lives and properties.

Dogs and several security gadgets were used to sniff around the complex, even as men of the counter-terrorism squad of the Police and a private Israeli security firm, were on ground to supervise the security inspection of the complex.
At about 8.35 am, the Police released a security balloon in the air for aerial survey. It was brought down after about ten minutes.

Thirty-eight patrol vehicles and three Armoured Personnel Careers, APC, were on Moscow Road that leads to the state House of Assembly complex.

About 60 policemen were also on the road to guard against any ugly political development.  Unlike in the past when lawmakers showed up on the road, yesterday, they all stayed away.

The Police, in a statement issued and signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP John Amadi, said it was yet to receive a copy of the certified true copy of the judgement, adding that it would invite all members of the state House of Assembly to sign an undertaking that they would be well behaved when allowed into the hallowed chambers of the House.

He said: “You are, by this letter, also requested to invite all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to kindly report to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, CID, where each member of the House will sign an undertaking that they will conduct themselves in an orderly manner, when they resume sitting.”

Meantime, Evans Bipi, confirmed on phone that he and the anti-Amechi lawmakers will comply with the directive of the Police that all members should sign an undertaking to be of good conduct when allowed into the House.

On the recent judgement of a High Court in Ahoada saying he should stop parading himself as Speaker of the House, Bipi said it was a kangaroo judgment, adding that he had not even been served.

He said: “I have not been served. It is a kangaroo judgement. I have not even seen this one. My legal wing will respond appropriately.”

Deputy Speaker of the House,  Leyii Kwanee, said the Police violated rights of members with the insistence that they should sign an undertaking, add that the House was not conducive for sitting. According to the Deputy Speaker, there was need to fix the facilities in the chambers.