Several hours after the police requested for the hand over of a former top shot of the NDDC, Joi Nunieh, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is yet to react. There has been no comment either by the Governor or his Government.
The former Acting Managing Director who has stood in the eye of a raging storm is presumably under police investigation.
The Governor had rushed out of his official residence Thursday , after an alarm was raised, to the Port Harcourt home of the former NDDC boss on what was dubbed a rescue mission.
Now, the police are asking the Governor to hand over the lady who is wanted for questioning.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police formally asked Governor Wike on Friday to hand over Joi Nunieh.
He said on Arise Television that the former NDDC boss has certain issues to straighten out with security operatives.
CP Mukan affirmed Friday that Nunieh who was invited for a chat chose to call the Governor instead of cooperating with the officers sent to escourt her.
Mukan said now that it was crystal clear that Wike who allegedly acted to protect a Rivers citizen has found out the truth, it is time for him to hand Nunieh over.
Earlier, the Police authorities dispelled rumours making the rounds that some policemen who were drafted to the Port Harcourt residence of the former Acting Managing Director of the NDDC were there illegally.
The Police confirmed that the policemen who were chased away by the Rivers Governor belonged the IGP Monitoring team.
Nnamdi Omoni, a DSP who is responsible for Public Relations under the Rivers State Police Command, said in a swift reaction that the officers and men seen at the scene were properly accredited.
The statement explained, “the reference indicating that the Officers were there without the directive of the CP nor the IGP is preposterous and most unfortunate., hence should be discoutenanced and disregarded.”
The Police statement further explained, “they went to her residence with Mobile Policemen, suggesting of course that they were there on official duty and not illegal duty as speculated.
“They proceeded to her residence, they observed due protocols and requisite standard operating procedures,including going through the processes of arriving themselves at the Headquarters with their Investigation Activities duly signed and approved by the Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph G Mukan.”
Videos which have gone viral reveal that the Governor rode in his official vehicle in the company of Joi Nunieh, who is seen from the perspective of the police as a possible suspect.
It is apparent that officials in Port Harcourt are studying the request of the police.
“Governor Wike is reviewing the situation based on the formal request presented by the police”, said an inside source.
“It is obvious that the Government is treating the matter as a violation of basic rights within its boundaries”, the source went on, “Wike had vowed that would not happen in Rivers State.”
Governor Wike while speaking on the raid carried out by the police noted, “Impunity can not be allowed to stand. Not in Rivers State. We are ready to fight for justice.”
Should the Rivers State Government respond by releasing Nunieh to the police, it may consider the option of putting some of the best lawyers in the country behind her in a fight that may be prolonged.
Credible sources confirmed Friday night that the Rivers State Government might have started exploring various possibilities that are open to it in dealing with the situation.
What is clear, going by the remarks of the Commissioner of Police, is that Nunieh is needed now to answer serious questions.
What those questions are, are not known to the public, and CP Mukan however, did not disclose