A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced the state’s Commissioner of Police to prison for failing to comply with a court order concerning a long-standing land dispute.

The legal battle dates back to a judgment delivered on November 26, 2016, in Suit No. YHC/210/2014, which was later upheld by the Court of Appeal in case CA/PH/170/2018. Despite these rulings, the Commissioner of Police allegedly disregarded the court’s directive, prompting the recent sentencing.

At the heart of the conflict is a parcel of land in Asam, Yenagoa, which currently serves as the operational base for Operation Doo-Akpo, a state-owned security outfit. The courts have ruled in favor of nine families from the Yenizue-gene Community, including the Fabiri, Ayoko, Aku, Ugbon, Obediah, Sampson, and Boye families, affirming their ownership rights.

Despite these judicial decisions, the police have reportedly refused to vacate the land, leading to legal action from the rightful owners.

Speaking at a press briefing, the lead counsel for the claimants, Ukunbiriowei Saiyou, confirmed that Justice R. Ajuwa issued the imprisonment order against the Commissioner of Police on December 27, 2024.

Saiyou explained that the claimants initiated committal proceedings in 2022 due to the Commissioner’s persistent refusal to comply with multiple court rulings.

“The police have failed to appear before the court or challenge the various decisions, leaving us no choice but to seek enforcement,” Saiyou stated.

Following the sentencing, there have been calls for the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to intervene and ensure the enforcement of the judgments, particularly the Court of Appeal ruling from June 10, 2021.

Saiyou warned that if the IGP does not act swiftly, it could result in the arrest of the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police.

He further revealed that since Saipem vacated the disputed land along Elebele-Opolo Road, the police and Operation Doo-Akpo have been occupying the area illegally, without the consent of the rightful landowners.

Representatives of the affected families, Chief Honest Boye Wilson and Hon. Manager Fabiri, voiced their frustration over the prolonged occupation of their land by the police. Despite their grievances, they reassured the public that they would continue to seek justice through legal means rather than resorting to public demonstrations against the government or security agencies.

“The Bayelsa State High Court ruled in our favor, and the Court of Appeal reaffirmed that ruling. Yet, the police remain on our land unlawfully,” Fabiri emphasized.

As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on law enforcement authorities to see if they will comply with the court orders or face further legal consequences.

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted Prof George Chima, chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission( ABSIEC).

This is as Abia police command said her personnel raided criminal hideouts in Aba, the state’s commercial hub, arrested some suspects and recovered six stolen vehicles.

It was gathered that the gunmen, numbering four, had stormed the ABSIEC chairman’s residence at Okigwe, Imo State and abducted him while he played host to some lecturers from Abia State University, Uturu.

An eyewitness account stated that the gunmen snatched a passing vehicle carrying logs of wood and fled in the vehicle with the ABSIEC chairman. The police had yet to make a statement over the incident, as at the time the report was filed.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Abia State Command, during an intelligence-led sting operations, raided a criminal hideout in Uratta, Aba, and recovered six vehicles.

According to a release by the command’s PPRO, Maureen Chinaka, the vehicles were mostly snatched at gunpoint.

Some suspects were arrested during the raid and the release said investigations were on-going to apprehend other fleeing suspects.

The recovered vehicles are, an Ash-colored Toyota Camry, with Reg No: LSD 885 CX; Aris Red-colour Toyota, with Reg No: GDD 254 AA, Chassis No: JTOBT90317113755; and a Navy Blue-colour Toyota RAV4, with Reg No: AG 743 BRR, and Chassis No: JTEGH20V810030195.

Others are, a Black-colour Toyota 4Runner, with Reg No: ABC 903 BR, and Chassis No: ZT3HN86Y0323994, Toyota RAV4, with Reg No: KTU 778 BR, and Chassis No: JTEGH20V430090641, and an Ash-colour Toyota Sienna, with Reg No: GWB 350 HM, Chassis No: 5TD2A23C45128038, and Engine No: 4201838.

There is brewing tension in Enugwu-Agidi community over the arrest of a suspected kidnapper Chukwudi Tansi by Soludo’s Agunechemba team.

Recently , the Social media was awash with news about the arrest of Chukwudi Tansi, a member of the Enugwu-Agidi Community Vigilante, apprehended with a cache of firearms, which exposed his alleged involvement in criminal activities that have long plagued Enugwu-Agidi community.

What adds more fuel to the fire is the implication of the traditional ruler of the community in the unfolding drama, as revealed by the President General (PG) of the community, Hon Chukwuebuka Onuorah

Speaking to journalists, the PG, Mr. Onuorah, expressed vindication . He pointed fingers at the traditional ruler for nominating Tansi to the community Vigilante despite prior warnings from the PG about Tansi’s possession of firearms.

Speaking further, Onuorah said he went as far as writing to the Inspector General of Police, citing threats to his life and the illegal possession of weapons by Tansi, a willing tool in the hand of the traditional ruler.

Part of his letter to the Inspector-General of Police reads:

“After my inauguration, I have received series of threats from the Traditional Ruler of Enugwu-Agidi HRH Mike Okekeuche of Umuakwuelo-Etiti village, Enugwu-Agidi in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria, ranging from forceful invasion of my residence and privacy and restriction of my free movement.

On Friday, 29th March, 2024 at exactly 11:07am, my residence was surrounded and invaded by heavily armed unknown faces who later introduced themselves as members of the Nigeria Police Force, claimed to be acting on the instructions of HRH Mike Okekeuche, took me to an unknown destination, but I return glory to God, that the unknown gun men vehemently warned me to denounce my position as the President General of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union Nigeria (EBU-NIG) so that Igwe’s choice will be installed and later released me unhurt.

“The Igwe HRH Mike Okekeuche, through one Chukwudi Tansi and Okonkwo Clement Ugochukwu, well-known members of outlawed IPOB, who parade themselves as soldiers and moving around the community with AK47 rifles have on several occasions attacked me with their guns, threatening to kill me, except I resign and step down from my position as the President General of my Community, and Igwe’s choice installed, that even the local Police are afraid of them. The confidence reposed on me by the good people of Enugwu-Agidi, I do not wish to give away; hence I had to run away for my dear life.

“Sir, in this circumstance, I am writing this petition with hope of consolation vis-a-vis calling attention of Police IRT, Abuja whose track record in tackling heinous crimes is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf in Nigeria, to arrest, and prosecute the above named unscrupulous criminal elements and all that are involved no matter whose ox is gored. Peradventure my complaints get to you late, and my life taken away, you should at least know my killer for I do not wish to join the long list of unresolved murders”.

Corroborating the PG’s account, a social media user from Enugwu-Agidi, Ezeobi, raised pertinent questions about influential figures aiding Tansi’s evasion of justice despite his involvement in serious criminal activities.

In light of these revelations, the PG is now urging for a thorough police investigation to expose the support network shielding individuals like Chukwudi Tansi.