The Rivers State Police Command has said the arrest and prosecution of three members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, was based only on outcome of an investigation that has no connection with their political activities.
The three ADC members, Isaiah Thomas, Confidence Amadi and Justice Chikezie are current being remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre on the orders of a Magistrate Court following their arraignment on three-count charge of conspiracy, cult-related activities and threat to life.
The party had said the trio were arrested during a campaign rally at Isiokpo, headquarters of Ikwerre local government area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Blessing Agabe, who disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt, was reacting to concerns raised by a stakeholder of the party, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, over the arrest of the party members.
Agabe said the Police has continued to remain politically neutral and has refused to take sides, pointing out that a petition had earlier been made against the three individuals after which the command conducted an investigation into the matter.
She said the outcome of the investigation led to the arrest and subsequent arraignment of the suspects.
The Police spokesman stated that the matter has been taken to court for judicial determination.
However, Nwibubasa has decried the arraignment in court and remand of the three ADC members in prison, describing the charges preferred against them as “trumped-up”.
Speaker with journalists in Port Harcourt, the ADC stakeholder said: “As we rightly anticipated, our members had been hurriedly been arraigned before a Magistrate Court without proper investigation and have been remanded on tromped-up charges of unlawful assembly and cultism.
“I want to state clearly that on Sunday, we did show a letter that was written to the CP (Commissioner of Police), Rivers State Command, informing him that ADC members were meeting in Isiokpo. So, it will be impossible for him to tag that assembly unlawful.”
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