DSS lies & blackmail will not lessen their crime against the Nigerian Judiciary - Governor Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has berated  the Department of State Services  (DSS ) for resorting to deliberate misinformation and concocted stories to justify  their unconstitutional  assault  on the nation’s judiciary.

The governor stressed that the DSS lacks the constitutional powers to be involved in the legal process to discipline a serving judicial  official, pointing out that there is a legal process that must be  followed.

Addressing the  people of Rivers State on Saturday night during a special dinner for the management and players of Rivers United at the Government House, Port Harcourt,  Governor Wike said the weak blackmail  of the DSS will not lessen the crime they have committed against the Nigerian State by assaulting  the judiciary.

He noted that nobody is deceived by the concocted figures being circulated by the DSS.

He said: "Their blackmail stories will not move me. They will concoct all kinds of stories to justify this undemocratic illegality perpetrated against the judiciary.

"It is really unfortunate that DSS would concoct a false defence that $2million USD , (that is N900million) was found in the house of the judge.It is unfortunate that the DSS is coming up with flimsy excuses. "

It will be recalled  that  the governor and the DSS Operatives  had their encounter outside the gate of the residence.  It is therefore ridiculous  that the DSS remained outside  to decare thar N900million  was found in the  residence.

The governor noted that while he does not condone corruption  , he will never support any process that is targeted at ruining the nation’s  judiciary.

He stated that the National Judicial Council has the responsibility  to discipline  erring and corrupt  judges, after which indicted judicial  officers are handed over to the relevant  law enforcement agency for prosecution.

The governor said  that the Police, Army and other para-military  agencies  have their respective  processes for the discipline  of erring and corrupt officers.

"In the police, erring and corrupt  policemen  are first given orderly room trial, sacked and then appropriately  prosecuted. For Judicial Officers,  the DSS has no role", he said.

Governor Wike added: "This impunity must stop.I am not in support of any judicial support being involved in corruption.
What we are saying is that the right things must be done. We must not do things that will jeopardise our hard earned democracy.

"If they had abducted the judge, they may go ahead to kill the judge and they will say that Rivers State is insecure."

The governor  added that he resorted to offering the explanation  because  of  the  propensity  of the DSS and other agencies to use newspapers  and the media to manipulate information.

He said: "The way things are going nobody should relax. Freedom comes with sacrifice. Independence comes with sacrifice. Liberty comes with sacrifice.

He said: "We must resist this injustice. Nobody can intimidate Rivers people. If you use to do that, not now. I am informing you before you will read whatever lies they wiĺl circulate in newspapers."

The governor noted that contrary to false statement  issued by the DSS he was with senior Rivers indigenes  at the time of stopping the DSS unconstitutional  act.

He said: "I was there with our State and National Assembly members, Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Austin Opara , the PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah and some caretaker chairmen. When they said I was with thugs I just laughed."

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
9th October, 2016.

Pictures: Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in a group photograph with players and management of Rivers United at a Special Dinner in honour of the team on Saturday