Rivers State Police Command, on Friday, said policemen who stormed the residence of the former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Joi Nuneh, to arrest her were on a legitimate duty.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, disclosed this in a statement in PortHarcourt.
On Thursday, armed policemen had laid a siege to Nunieh’s residence at GRA, Port Harcourt, hours before she was supposed to testify before a House of Representatives panel probing the commission.
Governor Nyesom Wike had prevented the policemen from arresting Nunieh. He had whisked the embattled former NDDC boss to the Rivers State Government House after rescuing her from the police siege and driving the policemen out of her residence.
Nunieh later told newsmen at the Government House that the policemen, who were without arrest warrant, pulled down her gate and attempted to break the security door before Governor Wike’s arrival.
She had accused Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, of being behind the police invasion of her home.
But the PPRO, Omoni, on Friday, said the police operatives were of the Inspector-General of Police monitoring team, with the support of the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan.
The statement read, “The Rivers Police Command wishes to clarify that officers who went to the residence of Nunieh were from the I-G Monitoring Team in Abuja on official assignment to the state.
“The officers, before proceeding to Nunieh’s residence, observed due protocols and requisite standard operating procedures.
“On arrival, the officers reported to the police command headquarters with their investigation activities duly signed and approved by the commissioner.”
Omoni said the mobile policemen that accompanied the team to effect Nunieh’s arrest went there on official duty.
He said, “The reference that police officers went to arrest Nunieh without the directive of the CP and IG is ridiculous and most unfortunate, hence should be disregarded.
“Mukan is poised to deliver quality policing services and the command will continue to remain firm, focused and will not be distracted by any consideration.”
The former NDDC boss had earlier accused the Niger Delta minister of perpetrating illegality at the commission. Nunieh also accused the minister of sexual harassment, an allegation he denied.
Wike had described the action of the police as disgraceful, saying the commissioner of police told him he was unaware of it.
He had called on Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, to probe the incident.