Demolition of Rivers hotels is executive recklessness ― CLCC

The Centre for Law and Civil Culture (CLCC) has accused the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, of engaging in what is termed executive recklessness, when he allegedly took the law into his hand by personally supervising, monitoring, directing and ensuring the demolition of private hotels of innocent citizens of Rivers State who were alleged to have violated the lockdown order/directives in the state.

CLCC in a statement jointly issued by its Executive Secretary and Publicity Secretary, Abdul Ganeey Imran and Deborah Okpanachi, described the action of Governor Wike as desecrating his office as governor, adding that the act could be likened to the attitude of hooligans who usually take laws into their hands “and could at will, set ablaze armed robbery suspects without giving them rooms to be heard, a case that at best, could be likened to extrajudicial killings.”

“This untoward action as depicted in the viral video is nothing but an ‘act of executive recklessness’. The CLCC therefore, condemn this in very strong terms and advice the Governor of Rivers State to desist from any further act of lawlessness, it is a jungle justice which is unknown to our law.

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“CLCC further notes that the action of Rivers State Governor in this circumstance could be likened to the attitude of the hooligans who usually take the law into their hands and could at will, set ablaze armed robbery suspect without giving them rooms to be heard, a case that at best, could be likened to extrajudicial killings. It, therefore, clearly shows that Governor Nyesom Wike could do the same if found himself in a similar situation.

“The point we are making here is that a governor cannot kill a citizen simply because he witnessed how that citizen killed his fellow citizens, the proper approach would have been for the governor to insist on the rule of law to be followed. The twins’ pillar of natural justice has always been audi alteram partem and nemo judex in causa sua – that you must hear the other party and you cannot be a judge in your own cause. Thus, Governor Nyesom Wike has violated and contravened these twin pillars of justice.

“To us at the Centre for Law and Civil Culture, the purported defence put up by the Governor is purely an afterthought which is unsustainable and indefensible under our law. CLCC, therefore, call on the Human Rights Commission, and the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice to wade in immediately and put Governor Nyesom Wike and other security agencies who have in one way or the other violated the constitutional rights of our dear citizens across the country (all in the bid of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in check so as to avoid a complete state of chaos and anarchy,” CLCC stated.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE