President Bola Tinubu has directed Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector general of police, to restore security and maintain peace, law and order in local government secretariats in Rivers state.

The president’s directive comes amid the destruction of some LGA secretariats in Rivers state by suspected hoodlums.

The incidents occurred after the swearing in ceremony of newly elected LGA chairs and their deputies in the state.

Prior to the incidents, the IGP had ordered the immediate withdrawal of policemen from the 23 LGA secretariats.

Announcing the development, Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers state, said the IGP’s directive “is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions”.

But in a statement on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, Tinubu ordered the police to safeguard government facilities from vandalism.

“President Tinubu directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately,” the statement reads.

“While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions.

“President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.”

Tinubu also called on Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, political leaders and their supporters to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.

He urged all political actors to “de-escalate the situation” and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions.

He expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state, stressing that, “self-help has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy”.

“The judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception,” Tinubu added.

A federal high court in Abuja has adjourned a suit filed by Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former minister of petroleum, challenging a final forfeiture order against her assets.

The suit, which was scheduled for mention on Monday, was stalled due to the absence of the judge who was said to be attending a seminar at the National Judicial Institute (NJI).

The matter was subsequently fixed for November 21.

BACKGROUND

The EFCC had issued a notice of its plan to conduct a public sale of all assets seized from Diezani beginning on January 9, 2023.

In the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, dated and filed January 6, Diezani through her lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, argued that all the orders of forfeiture obtained by the EFCC were made without jurisdiction of the courts and ought to be set aside as a matter of justice.

The former minister said she was not given fair hearing, notified about the proceedings leading to the orders, or served with the court processes.

“The various court orders issued in favour of the respondent and upon which the respondent issued the public notice to conduct a public sale of items contained in the public notice, most of which court the interest of the applicant, were issued in breach of the applicant’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as altered, and other similar constitutional provisions,” she said

“The several applications upon which the courts made the final order of forfeiture against the applicant were obtained upon gross misstatements, misrepresentations, non-disclosure, concealment and suppression of material facts and this honourable court has the power to set aside same ex debito justitiae, as a void order is as good as if it was never made at all.

“The orders were made without recourse to the constitutional right to fair hearing and right to property accorded the applicant by the constitution.

“The applicant was never served with the processes of court in all the proceedings that led to the order of final forfeiture.”

EFCC’S COUNTER AFFIDAVIT

However, in a counter affidavit, counsel to the EFCC, Rufai Zaki, described Deizani’s claims as “untrue”.

Zaki was a member of the team that investigated the case of alleged criminal conspiracy, official corruption and money laundering against the ex-minister and some other individuals.

He said investigations showed that Alison-Madueke was involved in some acts of criminality.

“We hereby rely on the charge FHC/ABJ/CR/208/2018 dated 14th November 2018, filed before this honourable court and also attached as Exhibit C in the applicant’s affidavit,” he said.

He said contrary to her deposition, most of the cases which led to the final forfeiture of the contested property “were action in rem, same were heard at various times and determined by this honourable court”.

He said the courts differently ordered the commission to do a newspaper publication inviting parties to explain why the said property should not be forfeited to the federal government before final orders were made.

Zaki argued that one Nnamdi Awa-Kalu represented the ex-minister in one of the forfeiture applications.

The EFCC investigator added that the order of forfeiture Diezani is challenging was granted in 2017 and that the ex-minister did not appeal it.

Suspected hoodlums have set sections of Eleme and Ikwerre local government secretariats in Rivers state on fire.

The torching comes hours after Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from the secretariats of the 23 LGAs of the state.

Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, who announced the development, said the IGP’s directive “is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions”.

Reports say some of the newly elected chairpersons and councillors arrived the facilities to the sight of thick black smoke billowing from what should be their new offices.

There are also reports of anarchy in a slew of other LGA secretariats in Rivers, as new council bosses set out their stalls for governance.

BACKGROUND

On Sunday, Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers governor, swore in 23 newly elected local government chairpersons.

The Action Peoples Party (APP) won 22 LGAs in Saturday’s election, while the Action Alliance (AA) was victorious in one LGA.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, Fubara said there were plans to perpetrate violence against the elected officials.

“I’m aware that they are mobilising 20 people per unit to go and confront you tomorrow when you resume in your local government headquarters,” Fubara said.

“Please if they are coming with violence, avoid them.

“The peace of this state is too important to us. Everybody knows what they are planning but please I want to beg everyone to follow my approach.

“At the right time, you will always win if you are patient and calculative. We have made our promises to our people. We are going to lead them to the promised land.”