The Rivers State Police command has begun moves to arrest of the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemabama Amachree over an alleged plot by some persons he did not name to assassinate Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in a neighboring state.
Amachree had gone to court to stop the police from interrogating him on the matter, but had failed in his bid, paving the way for the police to invite him to explain more on the plot.
The police have made it clear that they want to get to the root of the allegation, but observers have alleged of intimidation in a bid to break the speaker, who has stood firmly behind Amaechi.
It would be recalled that immediately the security details of the Speaker, and Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Mr. Tony Okocha, were withdrawn by the commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, the Speaker and the Chief of Staff made the allegation.
“The Speaker has raised very serious issues about security threats and about the attempt to assassinate the governor (Rivers), His Excellency and the chief security officer of this state. That is a very serious issue and the speaker of the House of Assembly will be invited and will be interrogated to give more facts and throw light into this information,” Mbu told journalists in Port Harcourt barely 24 hours after.
Since the court ruled, the Speaker, who had gone into hiding until he appeared on the day of the fight that occurred in the State House of Assembly, has returned to hiding.
There were reports that he traveled out of the country on an official engagement, and was being awaited by the police to invite him for questioning once again. But a source said that “this time, it will not be mere invitation, because the invitation is being backed by the court, and you know what that means.”
Although the police have not come out to declare him wanted, our investigation reveal that if he does not turn himself in, he might be declared wanted.
There are fears that the Speaker might face the kind of treatment meted to another Amaechi supporter, the House Leader, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, who has been in detention for over one week after he voluntarily handed himself over to officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Lloyd appeared in court on Wednesday, and the case that was brought against him was adjourned to August 6, but was denied bail contrary to the expectations of his supporters, and political associates.
