Police Deny Withdrawing Security From Rivers Judge
•By Admin
PORT HARCOURT – THE Rivers State Police Command has debunked reports circulating on social media alleging that it withdrew the police orderly attached to Hon. Justice Mrs. Augusta Kingsley Chukwu.
In a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command described the report as false and misleading, noting that the affected officer was only among personnel temporarily deployed to Anambra State for the forthcoming off-cycle gubernatorial election.
According to the statement, the redeployment was a routine operational exercise involving several officers across different units of the Nigeria Police Force, and not directed at the judiciary or any specific individual.
“Upon completion of the national assignment, the affected personnel will promptly resume their primary duties,” the statement read in part.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a cordial working relationship with the judiciary, which it described as a key partner in the administration of criminal justice.
The police also assured that adequate security will continue to be provided for all judicial officers and residents of Rivers State, emphasizing that the temporary deployment should not be misconstrued as punitive or discriminatory.
“We urge the public to disregard the misleading report and continue to trust the Command’s commitment to professionalism, fairness, and integrity in the discharge of our duties,” the statement added.
Recall that a group known as Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN) had earlier described the alleged withdrawal of a police orderly assigned to the Rivers judge as a disturbing attempt to intimidate the judiciary and undermine the rule of law, calling on all Nigerians to condemn such actions in the strongest terms.
The group also alleged that the judge recently delivered a judgment against the Nigeria Police Force in suit number PHC/1785/CR/2024 which angered the police hierarchy.
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