Wike Directs Prosecution of Former Rivers Majority Leader for Attempted Murder

• Swears in 13 LG caretaker committee chairmen, 17 perm secs

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has directed the re-appointed Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) to ensure the conclusive prosecution of former Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, over the attempted murder of a member of the State Assembly, Mr. Michael Chinda.

Wike also directed Aguma to ensure the conclusive prosecution of Mr. Ojukaye Flag Amachree who is standing trial for the murder of a citizen of Asari Toru Local Government Area during one of the rerun elections. According to him, anybody who commits crime in the state must face the full weight of the law.

The governor spoke yesterday after swearing-in the re-appointed State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, as well as 13 Caretaker Committee Chairmen of Local Government Areas.

He said: “The attempted murder of a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly must be conclusively prosecuted by the office of the Attorney General. Also, the person involved in the murder of a citizen of Asari Toru Local Government Area during the rerun elections must be conclusively prosecuted. Nobody is above the law.

“I don’t know how the person who was almost killed on the floor of the Rivers House of Assembly will feel seeing his assailant moving around freely? How will the family of the murdered Asari Toru Local Government Area citizen feel knowing that the alleged murder suspect is roaming freely without conclusive prosecution?”

The governor charged the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to ensure that all the victims get justice in accordance with the tenets of the law.

He advised the Attorney General to sustain the enthronement of the rule of law to avoid a situation where people resort to self-help on account that the state cannot prosecute criminal offenders.

On the newly sworn-in Chairmen of Caretaker Committees of Local Government Areas, Wike advised them to concentrate on the maintenance of security and environmental sanitation.

He advised the Local Government Chairmen to work with security agencies to address security challenges in their respective local government areas. He warned them against the mismanagement of council funds for personal benefits or to influence top government officials or their families.

Meanwhile, Wike also yesterday swore in 17 permanent secretaries, advising them to work with his administration to deliver key projects and programmes to improve the living condition of the people.

He said: “Use this opportunity to make a mark. Ensure you move the ministry you are posted to forward. If you work well, you will be appreciated. When you get an appointment, it is for you to serve the state. Render meaningful service. You are not appointed to make money.”
He said with the appointment of additional 17 permanent secretaries, the development of the state would be consolidated. “With the appointment of these permanent secretaries, we will continue to develop the state at a faster pace”, he said.

The governor noted that his administration has ensured the needed spread in the appointment of permanent secretaries, pointing out that only Tai Local Government Area is without a permanent secretary.

He informed that he would in due course appoint a permanent secretary from Tai Local Government Area to ensure that every local government area has at least one permanent secretary.

The newly appointed New Permanent Secretaries are; Afoma Jonathan, Nnamdi Okpu, Kindness Egbelu, Ene Secondus, Richard Hart, Jim Brown, Titilola Cline, and Livinus Agbovu.

Others include Sunday Biranee, Keenam Barinuah, Daniel Ogbumgbada, Samuel Egumah, Samuel Deresoma, Jubobaraye Kio, Ibiwari Clapton-Ogolo, Sunny Okere and Chidi Adiele.