Lawmakers in the House of Representatives, operating under the aegis of G-60, held an emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
They called for the trial of 23 former local government chairmen in Rivers State, who are loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
The lawmakers accuse these former chairmen of treason for attempting to forcefully retain their seats beyond the constitutional expiration of their three-year terms in office.
The group, led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, the lawmaker representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, called on the Rivers State government to immediately prepare treason charges against the local government chairmen and their sponsors for their alleged actions. This statement was made during a press conference held at the National Assembly Complex.
In attendance at the press conference were Aliyu Mustapha (PDP, Kaduna), Matthew Nwogu (LP, Imo) and Midaila Usman(PDP, Borno).
The Federal lawmakers accused the former council chairmen of violating multiple legal provisions, including section 37 (1) of the Criminal Code Act, section 39 of the Nigeria Police Act, sections 12 and 23 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and section 1 (2) of the Constitution. These sections prohibit any individual or group from unlawfully occupying a position of power or attempting to forcibly take over the government in any part of Nigeria.
This is as the lawmakers called on the judiciary to remain vigilant in curbing the activities of persons desperate to take over institutions of governance in Rivers State or any part of the country.
The lawmakers expressed strong disapproval of what they termed an attempted act of treason by the former local government chairmen. These individuals allegedly tried to organize a dubious swearing-in ceremony using magistrates and judges from neighboring states at around 5 AM on Tuesday, despite their tenure having expired on the 17th of this month.
“We commend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the citizens of Rivers State for their efforts in thwarting the attempts of disgruntled elements to unlawfully seize control of local government councils.”
“We also commend the bravery of the people of Rivers State who courageously defended their local government and thwarted the unlawful attempt by the former chairmen to seize control of the governance institution.
“This heroic action aligns with Section 20 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which empowers citizens to arrest and prevent any criminal act being committed in their presence,” Ugochinyere stated.
“In addition, Ugochinyere noted that according to Section 39 of the Nigeria Police Act of 2020, ‘A private person in Nigeria may arrest a suspect whom he witnesses committing an offense, or whom he reasonably suspects of having committed an offense for which the police are authorized to arrest without a warrant.”
“Section 37 Criminal Code Act (1) provides that “Any person who levies war against the State, in order to intimidate or overawe the President or the Governor of a State, is guilty of treason, and is liable to the punishment of death.
“(2) Any person conspiring with any person, either within or without Nigeria, to levy war against the State with intent to cause such levying of war as would be treason if committed by a citizen of Nigeria, is guilty of treason and is liable to the punishment of death:
“Provided that nothing in this section shall prevent any act from being treason which is so by the laws of England as in force in Nigeria.”
“The Ugochinyere-led group commended Governor Fubara for his commitment to democracy by allowing the former chairmen to complete their three-year tenures without disruption, despite facing provocative acts in recent months.”
