The preservation, protection and projection of public institutions rest with those saddled with the responsibility to preside over them. This informs why appointment into institutions of government or management level, in any organization is guided with utmost precision.
As it stands, if there is anything that the new IGP, Olukayode Egbetokun should immediately attend to, it is to wield the big stick against CSP Ezekiel Rimamsomte and all the officers behind the poor projection of the Police image at the FCT High Court 40 Bwari over an unfounded case of forgery.
However, the pragmatism of the new IG is not in doubt, the spontaneity with which he summoned some officers alleged to be involved in running over a man with a vehicle in Edo state is enriching and deeply fulfilling. It shows a man who is truly ready and prepared to put bad eggs in police in their proper shelves.
On June 6, 2023, the FCT High Court 40 Bwari enforced the Supreme Court Judgment which clearly stated that the legally recognized leadership of APGA were the Executives that were emerged from the Owerri Convention of May 31, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 287 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which states that any Court of record can enforce the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mohammed Madugu of the FCT High Court 40 Bwari made consequential orders for the enforcement of the Supreme Court Judgment stating as follows;
‘The actions of the 1st Respondent (Chief Victor Oye) posing and parading himself and occupying the Party’s Secretariat as the National chairman of APGA contrary to the judgment and order of the Supreme Court made on 14th October, 2021 and corrected on the 24th of March, 2023 is in disobedience and in clear violation of the Supreme Court.
By this enforcement order, Oye’s purported congresses and convention which produced one Mr. Sly Ezeokenwa is a huge hoax. If Oye has been thus described by the Judgment of a competent Court, as having no locus or legal stance to parade himself as APGA National Chairman; it, then means that Sly Ezeokenwa is a persona non grata before the law.
However, despite the above enforcement order, on June 21, 2023, the Police continued its criminal charge against Chief Edozie Njoku on the allegations that he forged a Supreme Court Judgment.
Interestingly, when the matter came up for hearing, the Police prosecutor, CSP Ezekiel Rimamsomte could not produce any witness, he practically looked lost and told the Court that his witness was out of town on emergency.
Recall that when the Police dragged Chief Edozie Njoku to Court in November, 2022, they have hinted the Court that the matter was ‘very urgent.’
But, as days go by, CSP Rimamsomte has not been able to prove to the Court, beyond reasonable doubt, that Njoku committed the crime for which he is standing trial.
Rimamsomte has rather resorted to endless adjournments to waste the time of the Court and that of an innocent man.
Previously, during the last sitting of the Court, Mr. Rimamsomte had told the Court that he still has four witnesses to present to the Court amongst who are: Chief Victor Ike Oye and another.
Some Police Officers namely: SP Sule Danjuma and Regina from the FCID.
Profoundly, a common parlance holds that he who alleges must prove.
Strangely, Mr. Rimamsomte’s macabre dance at FCT High Court Bwari is ridiculing the revered Nigerian Police force.
His inability to prove his case with substantial evidence against Chief Edozie Njoku will further diminish the already battered and withered image of the Nigeria Police. Read more.
[Contributed]
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