The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of defying a court judgment.

Wike made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

He claimed that disregarding court rulings could lead to chaos and the breakdown of law and order.

“I was a governor, I have always obeyed the rule of law. You heard the governor say that our state is turning into a state of anarchy where people do not obey the rule of law.

“You must obey the judgment of the court. You must not take the law into your own hands. The moment you don’t obey court judgment, you are inviting anarchy, you are inviting violence,” Wike said.

Wike also accused Fubara of publicly declaring on national television that he would not comply with a court judgment.

The minister also criticised his successor for his comments regarding the police providing security for the local government election in Rivers State.

Wike also accused Fubara of being responsible for the recent violence that erupted in the state on Sunday.

The political tension in the state escalated on Monday, with fresh explosions and protests occurring in some local government secretariats.

The trouble was linked to a recent order by Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, which called for the unsealing of the secretariats of the 23 local governments and the immediate withdrawal of police officers who had been stationed there since July.

Despite the withdrawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress and police from the recent LG election, Fubara insisted that elections must take place.

The elections were held amid heightened tensions, resulting in the Action People’s Party winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions while the Action Alliance secured one seat.

Fubara swiftly swore in the 23 newly elected chairmen on Sunday.

However, upon taking office on Monday, some faced violent attacks, and some council secretariats were set ablaze by political opponents

Following the violence, President Bola Tinubu ordered the police to secure the local government secretariats across the state.

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, says the report of the investigation into allegations of bribery and misconduct within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) involving Idris Okuneye, a popular crossdresser known as Bobrisky, will be ready next week.

Tunji-Ojo spoke in Abuja at the official launch of the report on the situation of children and young adults deprived of liberty in Nigeria.

The minister ordered a probe after VeryDarkMan, the controversial activist, shared a video online in which Bobrisky claimed she bribed some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials with N15,000,000 to drop the money laundering charges against her.

The crossdresser was released from prison on August 5 after she was sentenced to six months on April 12 for abusing the naira.

But in the footage, Bobrisky claimed her “godfather” alongside Haliru Nababa, the controller general of the NCoS, ensured she served the six-month sentence in a private apartment and not the prison.

Although the crossdresser denied the allegations, the federal government suspended some NCoS officials over the controversy.

Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the presence of dedicated officers within the system but noted that the actions of a few would not be allowed to destroy the integrity of the institution.

“I don’t care about Bobrisky; it is about the system. There must be penalties for actions,” the minister said.

“The correctional centers cannot continue to be a point of disgrace to the Nigerian government.”

Tunji-Ojo also confirmed that an officer implicated in the scandal has been suspended and replaced.

‘SYSTEM WILL BE REFORMED’

The minister stressed the need for accountability in addressing the challenges within Nigeria’s correctional facilities and reiterated commitment to transforming the system.

Tunji-Ojo also assured that he would take responsibility for the future of the system.

“This responsibility will be a springboard for a better tomorrow,” he said.

“If I tell you that I am comfortable with what is happening at the correctional centres, I will be the greatest liar.”

“Take this to the bank: we will reform the Nigerian correctional center.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of defying a court judgment.

Wike made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

He claimed that disregarding court rulings could lead to chaos and the breakdown of law and order.

“I was a governor, I have always obeyed the rule of law. You heard the governor say that our state is turning into a state of anarchy where people do not obey the rule of law.

“You must obey the judgment of the court. You must not take the law into your own hands. The moment you don’t obey court judgment, you are inviting anarchy, you are inviting violence,” Wike said.

Wike also accused Fubara of publicly declaring on national television that he would not comply with a court judgment.

The minister also criticised his successor for his comments regarding the police providing security for the local government election in Rivers State.

Details later…