Peace Corps, Police Officers Clash In Abuja

Some officers of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) clashed with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force at the national headquarters of the Peace Corps in Abuja.

The drama started after Peace corps officials were prevented from accessing their office at number 57, Iya Abubakar Crescent, off Alex Ekwueme way, opposite Jabi Lake, Jabi, Abuja. The police officers who later called for reinforcement pleaded with the Peace Corps officials to give the security agency a little time for “due process” to be followed before their office which was locked since February, 28, when the police raided the premises and arrested the national commandant of the Corps, Dickson Akoh and 49 others.

Recall that a judgement by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had ordered the Nigeria Police Force to unseal the office of the PCN. The court in its ruling also awarded a damage of N12.5 million against the Nigeria Police and the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris. However, eight after the court’s judgment, the police is yet to unseal the building. Some officers of the police are still occupying the premises of the national headquarters of the corps. Also on Thursday, November 16, in Abuja, Barr. Edward Omaga of the Lawyers Integrity Crusade Network told newsmen that, despite serving the judgement to the police, the security agency has flagrantly refused to vacate the premises.

“We are aggrieved that the judgement was served by the bailiffs of court on the Nigerian Police Force since November 10, 2017 and again served on all parties by the chambers of Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN & Co. on November 13, 2017 for compliance. “Only for the CP legal, Force Headquarters named Mr. David Igbodo to come up with a lame excuse that Nigeria Police Force cannot unseal office now because their team of lawyers still are still studying the judgment.

“This again is highly self contradictory, since the same Police had earlier claimed that they never sealed the Peace Corps Headquarters,” Omaga said. Ina a similar briefing, some civil society organizations, including the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), NEPAD Youth Nigeria, also frowned at the ‘nonchalance’ portrayed by the attorney general of the federation in imposing the order made by the court.

The CSOs which further accompanied personnel of the PCN to their office where also prevented from gaining access into the building. The CSOs, led by Yemi Success pleaded with the officers of the Corps to go back and reconvene on Friday, November 17, while hoping that the police would have done the needful by then.

It was earlier reported that Akoh said would resume in his office in Abuja on Monday, November 13 despite police barricade. Akoh made this declaration following the alleged refusal of the police to leave the office headquarters despite a court ruling against the action. If any police officer misbehaves with you, call any of these numbers.