- An Abuja-based lawyer has petitioned the acting president over the sealing of the Peace Corps of Nigeria's headquarters by the police
- Ahmed Jimoh urged Yemi Osinbajo to compel the police and its inspector general to unseal the Peace Corps office
- According to Jimoh, the corps has remained a uniform youth organisation engaging in youth development, nation building, patriotism and neighborhood watch
A human rights lawyer based in Abuja, Ahmed Jimoh, has petitioned the acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, on the continued seal-off of the headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN).
Jimoh in his petition urged the acting president to mandate the inspector general of the police and the Nigeria Police Force in general to unseal the corporate office of the Peace Corps.
In his petition dated August 13, 2018, Jimoh specifically called the presidency to direct police authorities to respect the rule of law and obey court orders directing them to vacate the office located at 57, Iya Abubakar Crescent, Abuja.
The activist in the petition informed Osinbajo of the two subsisting judgments of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered police to unseal the office, but was not obeyed till date.
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The petition, entitled: 'Appeal to Mr. President to compel Police to respect rule of law on Peace Corps of Nigeria', Jimoh said that the Corps has remained a uniform youth organization engaging in youth development, nation building, patriotism and neighborhood watch.
He said the PCN has been made to suffer untold hardships by the action of Police in sealing up the office unlawfully.
The petition, copied the Nigerian Police Council, the Attorney General of the Federation, Police Service Commission and the IGP, read in part: "Your Excellency, with due respect, it is my humble submission that the respect for the rule of law in a democratic system of government as that of Nigeria is the very foundation for any democracy and where an agency of government such as Police has chosen to consistently act in total disregard for court judgments, then the legitimacy of the government becomes doubtful."
"Also, Your Excellency, it is my humble submission that where the rule of law is sacrificed for the rule by whims and caprices, such situation is a war against the supremacy of the Constitution.
"I also submit that the attitude and conduct of the Nigerian Police and IGP against Peace Corps, if allowed to continue, would have much harms on the development of this nation than can be imagined.
"I humbly appeal to Your Excellency to compel and (or) order the Nigeria Police Force and the IGP to obey the judgments of courts in favour of Peace Corps with immediate effect and to also sanction the IGP, who has unlawfully and illegally continue to violate and disobey the valid and subsisting court orders without any reason allowed by law," the petition said.
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Jimoh also informed the acting president that two judges - Justices Gabriel Kolawole and John Tsoho - have at different times issued orders to the Police directing the police to unseal the office in the interest of justice and fair play.
He said it is regrettable that Police rather than obeying the court orders chose to remain adamant by blocking the entrance to the office with a heavy truck.
He also noted the police has stationed several of its officers to prevent the staffers of the Corps from accessing the office as directed by court.
Jimoh said: "The use of naked powers and oppression against the youth in the Peace Corps of Nigeria, who are being prepared for a bright future", were capable of spelling doom for the nation and therefore urged the Presidency to passionately wade into the matter and order Police to vacate the office.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that a Federal High Court in Abuja had discharged the national commandant of the Peace Corps, Dickson Akoh.
Akoh who was facing 13-count charges bordering on extortion and money laundering The national commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Amb. (Dr.) Dickson Akoh, was on Tuesday, June 12, discharged of the 13-count criminal charges preferred against him by the IGP.
The Nigeria Police had, in March 2017, slammed Akoh with a 90-count charge but later amended it to 13-count charge, after it was observed that most of the charges were repetitive.
If any police officer misbehaves with you, call any of these numbers - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng