Nigerian Presidency Orders Police To Detain State Lawmaker Chidi Lloyd Involved In Fracas

The Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, on Tuesday showed up at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, exactly seven days after he was invited by the police over the free-for-all by some members of the assembly.

But the Aide-De-Camp to  Governor Rotimi Amaechi,   Debeware  Semeikumo, and  the  Chief Security Officer, Tony Iwelu,  shunned a similar invitation to 

It was learnt just as indications  emerged in Abuja that the Senate might  endorse the House of Representatives decision to take over the  functions of the state  assembly.

Lloyd, Semeikumo and Iwelu were  invited on July 16 to explain their roles in the July 8 free-for-all in which some lawmakers were injured.

The Majority leader, who had earlier been declared wanted by the Rivers State Police Command in connection with the fracas, arrived at the Force Headquarters at   5. 45pm  and   was immediately directed to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, where he was asked to write his statement.

A top Police source, who confirmed the lawmakers arrival, said it was unlikely that he would be released on Tuesday as a team of investigators needed to interrogate him.

“Lloyd came to  the Force Headquarters about 5:45pm on Tuesday and  he was asked to write his statement. It is not certain he would be released today (Tuesday) because he is going to face serious interrogation,” the source added.

As of 11:10pm, he had yet to leave the police headquarters, indicating that he had been detained on specific orders from the Presidency.

When contacted, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba,  said he could not  confirm whether Lloyd was detained or not.

But he said that  Amaechi’s ADC, who was captured in a video fighting a member of the assembly, and the CSO did not appear at the FCID as directed.

Lloyd,  who  was also  captured on video attacking  another lawmaker, Michael Chinda, with a  mace, had  claimed  that he was receiving treatment for an injury he sustained during the  fracas  at an undisclosed hospital.

One of our correspondents learnt from another  police  source  that Semeikumo, who is a police officer and Iwelu, a State Security Service operative, might have  absconded from duty, thereby putting their career in jeopardy.

Asked the implication of such disobedience, the DFPRO  said it would be presumptuous  to talk about the punishment that awaited  them.

 “I can confirm to you that the CSO and the ADC have not reported to the Force Headquarters; but I can’t talk on the implications of this on their career; it would be presumptuous to talk about that now,” Mba said.

When our correspondent in Port Harcourt asked Amaechi’s Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, why the two security personnel had not honoured the invitation, he replied that his boss was not stopping them from  doing so.

Iyofor explained that the ADC had gone to seek medical attention after sustaining injuries from an attack while trying to protect the governor.

He  said, “As we speak, he is being treated and I am sure the police are  aware of this. The police investigators that came to Port Harcourt were clearly told this.

“I am sure the police know how to invite the CSO if they want him. However, the question we should be asking is: why are those  who started the fracas not being invited?”