Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Joi Nunieh says the reason why she went to court is to seek protection under the law.
Nunieh’s home in Port Harcourt was invaded in the early hours of Thursday, 16th July 2020, by some 50 policemen from the IG Unit and Mopol in Port Harcourt to arrest her over her running battle with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The lawyer of the former Acting MD of NDDC, Sylvester Adaka while explaining this to our correspondent said Joi Nunieh is in court to enforce her fundamental human rights.
The former Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Port Harcourt branch, also said that Joi Nunieh is afraid of her life because of the police invasion on her house last Thursday.
“She has gone to court for her protection because she fears for her life, she fears for her safety. If the police who are supposed to be your friend suddenly invade your house without notice you should be wary of that friend. And that is exactly what Dr Joi Nunieh is doing because she is wary of the friend ‘the police’, who have chosen to use the method of invasion as if they are chasing a common criminal who has been on the run and who they suddenly discovered where she is’, which is not the case. That is the simple reason why she approached the court as a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria” he said.
Sylvester Adaka also frowned at the manner the police invaded the premises of Joi Nunieh.
He said the approach of the Police by using guerilla tactics for a civilian are unwarranted and uncalled for.
He added that the Police did not write the former acting managing director of NDDC before approaching her house.
“On the issue of the manner in which the police invaded the residence of the former Acting Managing Director of NDDC Dr. Joi Nunieh, our point is clear there. All Dr Joi Nunieh wants is a fair hearing. And already if the National Assembly has set up a committee and they are looking into the matter, why is the police interfering. The National Assembly is a very competed arm to look into this matter”.
“If there is anybody who feels that the National Assembly committee as currently set up will not do justice, all they need to do is to protest the composition of the committee to the appropriate quarters. They do not need to bring in the police. Dr Joi Nunieh is not a fugitive, she is not on the run. So there is no way they should have invaded her house at such an early hour of the morning. Even if the Police want to see her, a phone call who has done or a properly written invitation which they did not do” he said.
