Court Judgment: Peace Corps breaks its office padlocked by police

The Peace Corps of Nigeria, on Thursday, opened its office sealed off by the police after it broke the padlock put on the entrance to its headquarters office in Abuja.

The Nigerian Police Force, had, on February 28 this year, sealed off the headquarters of the Peace Corps after it was accused of carrying out illegal recruitment and other activities the police described as a threat to security.

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Meanwhile, on Thursday 9th November 2017, the Federal High Court in Abuja described the sealing of the Corps Office by the police as unlawful and therefore ordered the Nigerian Police to unseal the property immediately.

It is this premise that a group Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Justice and Equity (CCSO-JE), alongside the members of the Peace Corps, matched to its headquarters in Abuja and unsealed it.

During a press conference preceding the unsealing of the office, the Coordinator of CCSO-JE, Barrister Edward Omaga Ed on the Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force, IGP Ibrahim Idris to direct his men to unseal the Peace Corps office.

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His words: “ladies and gentlemen, members and supporters of CCSO-JE have been pushed to the wall and the time to bounce back is now. The era of impunity is gone for good, under the incorruptible leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We cannot fold our arms and watch IGP Idris perpetuate executive recklessness at this time of our national life when love, Peace, patriotism, unity, and caution should be our watchword.

“As far as we are concerned, enough is enough for IGP Idris. We Accordingly demand that IGP directs his policemen to unseal the National headquarters of Peace Corps Nigeria forthwith in line with the court judgment.

“It is imperative to state these  CCSO-JE shall, without further recourse to the Nigerian Police Force, lead members of the Press and Peace Corps of Nigeria to resume duties thereat if by Monday, November 20, 2017, the office remains sealed”.

Meanwhile, as CCSO-JE and Peace Corps Members unsealed the Office, the Nigerian Police Force prevailed at the venue to maintain peace.

At the time the report is filed, members of the Nigerian Police Force were still present at the street where the National Headquarters of Peace Corps Nigeria is located