Order IGP to unseal our office – Peace Corps begs Buhari

The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, to urgently unseal its corporate headquarters, in line with various court orders to that effect.

This was even as the Corps claimed it had secured over 15 valid court judgements against the Police and other security agencies in Nigeria and that none had been appealed against.

National headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria located at number 57, Iya Abubakar crescent, off Alex Ekwueme street, opposite Jabi lake, Jabi, Abuja, has been under lock and keys by the Police since February 28th, 2017, the day the office was officially launched.

National Commandant of PCN, Amb Dickson Akoh, has claimed the organisation pays as much as N13.5m rent annually on the sealed office.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja Wednesday, the Peace Corps Boss, said his group remained a non-confrontational and law abiding organisation and has explored all lawful means, including seeking political solutions to its ordeal, but to no avail.

“In view of the landmark ruling yesterday coupled with other previous judgements and the resolution of the House of Representatives, we wish to renew our appeal, as part of our last resort, to President Muhammadu Buhari, to please direct the Inspector General of Police to order his men to vacate the premises of the headquarters of our organisation in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.

“We are also appealing to the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, Civil Society Organisations, Human Rights Activists and other well-meaning Nigerians to urgently intervene in this regard, especially in prevailing on the Nigeria Police to respect the rule of law as a frontline Law Enforcement Agency”, Akoh stated.

He said the police and its allies have achieved their overall intent, “which is to stop the Nigerian Peace Corps Establishment Bill from seeing the light of the day. The clamp down and the purported charges against me and indeed this organisation were essentially to stop Mr President from assenting to the NPC Bill and stopping the Legislative Arm of Government from doing the needful”.

His words, “We are ever ready to defend ourselves before any court of law as it is our wish to clear ourselves of any allegations.

“In a civilized society where the Rule of Law is supreme and respected by institutions of government and individuals, it is expected that the Police comply with valid Court Orders and subsequently come before the Court to prove its allegations against us, if any at all”.

“The action of the IGP in disobeying valid court orders with brazen impunity and his selective victimization of innocent Nigerians must be quite disturbing to all lovers of democracy.

“The truth is that, he is only courting more enemies for this administration that is known for its strong aversion to all manner of impunities, which is injurious to our President, who is doing all that is humanly possible to place Nigeria on the path of economic and political recovery”, Akoh stated.