8 Rivers re-run: Delayed filing of DSS reply stalls Wike’s suit

The alleged delay by the Department of State Services (DSS), to file a reply to the suit by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to stop ongoing police investigation into alleged violence in the December 10, 2016 legislative re-run election in the state has stalled hearing.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of an Abuja Federal High Court yesterday adjourned the suit to March 3 for further reply in the response brought by the DSS, which Wike’s lawyers complained of being filed late.

The judge had earlier ordered the applicant to serve the summons on the DSS, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damian Okoro to show cause why the ex-parte order would not be made.

Wike’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had brought the application asking the court to make an order of interim injunction restraining the IGP, State Security Services (SSS) and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Damian Okoro from enforcing or executing the matters contained in the letter written to Wike by the Police boss on December 20, 2016.

The IGP had in a letter titled: “Investigation into allegations of crimes committed during the last rerun elections in Rivers state”, sought the cooperation of the governor to an investigative panel over alleged acts of criminality which occurred during the National and State Assemblies election in the state.

But in an affidavit deposed to by Harrison Obi of Ozekhome’s law chambers, Wike identified the Police and the Army as having orchestrated the violence that affected the re-run election in the state.