A group, known as Rivers Professionals for Good Governance (RPGG), has alleged that Governor Nyeson Wike of the state prevented security agents from arresting a judge to cover up the sum of $250,000 he personally gave to the judge to deliver a judgment in the favour of his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group, which claimed to be committed to over sighting the activities of the Rivers State Government and the 23 LG Councils, said that the judge allegedly collected the said amount from the governor for the purpose of giving favourable judgments in cases such as the Tai rerun election matters and others which are either before the judge or will end up before the judge and other federal judges.
A statement by jointly signed by the President of the group, Engr. Edmondson Jamabo and General Secretary, Johnson Amaewhule said that the said judge was able to quickly make contact with governor Wike as soon as security operatives surrounded his residence, adding: “this explains why the governor personally mobilized his associates to obstruct the arrest of the judge and the possible retrieval of the 250 thousand USD which was still in the judge’s home mainly to provide opportunity for the exhibit to be taken away.
“The RPGG, as a watchdog for good governance, regrets that the security agents succumbed to the blackmail by Gov. Nyesom Wike and vacated the premises. We condemn in strongest terms the obstructionist stance exhibited by the governor of Rivers State. The event of today has convinced us that Gov. Wike systematically corrupts the judiciary to do his bidding.
“We recall that the governor has been accused severally of obstructing security agencies from doing their job. He is accused and we now believe that the governor shields key criminals such as Solomon Ndigbara and many others. Now the governor has moved to physically shield judges he has compromised.
“In Ogoni, he confronted and blackmailed soldiers to discontinue the cleansing of the area of criminals and hoodlums. Same was the case in Orashi region and elsewhere.
“The RPGG also agrees that Gov. Nyesom Wike, by his conduct and utterances, inflame and exacerbate the present precarious security situation in Rivers State. Indeed, it is very curious why Gov. Wike would obstruct the Federal Government from arresting its erring employees.
“It can only mean that there is an unwritten collaboration between the governor and such employees of the Federal Government. Of course, it must be an unholy collaboration for that matter.
“We call on the DSS and other security agencies to realize that their loyalty is to nation first. Therefore, we call on them to disregard and effectively waive aside, by any means whatsoever, any obstructions to carrying out their constitutional duties irrespective of any possible collateral outcome.
“Rivers Professionals for Good Governance (RPGG) enjoins security agencies to operate within the law without acquiescing to the kind of manipulations to good governance currently being perpetuated by the Nyesom Wike-led Rivers State Government. [myad]
