PDP commences court process against Amaechi, army chiefs to prison

– Minister of transportation, Chibuike Amaechi
describes as frivolous, ridiculous and laughable the
court action by PDP seeking to commit him to prison
– Queries why PDP instituted the court action against
him when he lacks the powers to deploy soldiers
– Promises to meet the party in court
For deploying soldiers during the March 19 Rivers rerun
elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers
has asked a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt to
commit the minister of transportation, Chibuike
Amaechi, the chief of defence staff, General Abayomi
Olonishakin, and the chief of army staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur
Buratai to prison.
According to This Day, the party also requested that the
commander of the 2 army brigade, Port Harcourt,
Brigadier General Stephenson Olabanji, the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Rivers state
resident electoral commissioner (REC), Mr Aniedi
Ikoiwak be jailed.
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The court action was instituted by the Rivers state PDP
chairman Felix Obuah in a motion of notice filed by their
solicitor, Kingsley Chuku, before the state High Court
registry on March 22.
Recall that Justice George Omereji of High Court on
March 16 granted an interim injunction restraining the
federal government  from deploying soldiers during the
rerun elections following a court process by the PDP.
However, soldiers were massively deployed and seen all
over the state, monitoring the conduct of the legislative
rerun elections which necessitated the recent court
action by the PDP.
The presiding judge, Justice Omereji, has adjourned
further hearing on the matter till April 14.
Reacting to the development, Amaechi, described the
move by the PDP as “ frivolous, ridiculous and laughable”,
promising to meet the party in court.
The minister of transportation in a statement by his
media office yesterday, March 28, said he was
unaware of the matter in court, pointing out that he had
not been served the processes.
Amaechi however queried why the PDP joined him in the
court matter when he does not have the powers as a
Minister of Transportation to deploy soldiers.
He asked: “Who has the powers to deploy soldiers
according to our constitution and laws? Does Amaechi, the
Minister of Transportation, have powers to deploy soldiers
anywhere in the country?
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“If Amaechi as Minister of Transportation does not deploy
soldiers, why is he being dragged into the matter? And is
the court saying that soldiers can’t be deployed for the
safety and protection of lives and property when there is a
clear need to do so?
“However, like I said earlier, we will meet them in court.”
Meanwhile, Some aggrieved Anambra state House of
Representatives members- elect have written an open
letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Leadership, the reps-elect want the
president to wade into the dispute surrounding the
legitimacy of those currently serving as federal
lawmakers from the state.
In the letter dated March 29, 2016, the lawmakers;
Emmanuel Nweke, Benedict Obaze, Anthony Offiah,
Charles Odedo, Princess Ifeyinwa Anazonw, Mrs
Uchenna Obi, Dr Ejike Nwene and Julius Oforma are
accusing Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of
Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) of
being partisan in the matter.