The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has condemned as menacing and inexcusable what it termed as “rogue police” raid on the Abuja residence of the Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman, South East Governors Forum, Dave Umahi.
The Minority Caucus said whereas the law enforcement agencies were free to do their job with respect to the rule of law, it was worried that the police authorities had denied foreknowledge of the operation and called for a thorough investigation.
The Caucus stated this in a statement signed by the Minority Leader of the House, Ndudi Elumelu, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Caucus said, “we received with angst and rude shock the report of the illegal raid on the Abuja residence of the Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, Chief Dave Umahi, by police officers reportedly from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Federal Capital Territory Command led by a Commissioner of Police.
“Whereas no one is above the law, we find the needless forced entry into the Governor’s residence, needless breaking of doors, scaling of fences, switching off of lights and the CCTV system as well as all acts of intimidation associated with the raid rather menacing, inexcusable, and anti-democratic.
“The fact that the police high commands, including the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, have distanced themselves from the operation makes it very suspect and a clear rogue operation.
“We denounce this illegality and act of intimidation. Such barbarism, abuse of power, and illegal use of a security apparatchik funded by tax payers is totally unacceptable and should, in fact, have no place in a democratic society.
“We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to rein in his men. We call for an immediate high-level enquiry into this act of cowardice and obtuse misuse of instrument of state security. We enjoin the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, to personally take it upon himself to ensure that every person directly or remotely involved in this brigandage is exposed and brought to book”.
The Caucus expressed solidarity to the Governor and his family urging him not to be intimidated in providing leadership for the good people of Ebonyi State, South East, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a major opposition leader.
“We appreciate your courage and steadfastness and urge you to match on, bravely as you have our full support and solidarity as you as a solider of good governance and defender of the finest democratic principles”, the statement added.
James Kwen, Abuja
