But the SARS Commander has countered the quit notice, saying that the facility was donated to the security outfit by the state government.
The quit notice, which was signed by the legal adviser of the council, Victor Owhonda, was entitled “Notice to Vacate and Deliver Property You Occupy Inside Obio/Akpor International Market, Rukpokwu Town, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area”.
Owhonda stated that he was directed to give the SARS one month to vacate and deliver the premises and property of the market which is presently occupied by SARS on or before 30 November, 2017.
The notice said the directive was necessitated by the need to carry out major renovation work at the market and to put the said property, which SARS occupies, into full use and purpose for which it was built.
It added that SARS should note that the directive was in furtherance of the developmental needs of the local government.
The lawyer said “the letter is very clear. The council intends to use the property for its purpose. As you may be aware, that is the Obio/Akpor International Market as was built some time ago and the council has decided that it is time to use it for its original purpose”.
He said that copies of the notice had been sent to the state governor, the Inspector General of Police IGP, Force Headquarters and the Commissioner of Police.
But in his reaction, the SARS Commander, Akin Fakorede, expressed surprise at the action of the authorities of the local government.
He explained that the facility in question was built and handed over to the security outfit by the state government and is never part of Obio/Apkor International Market.
“That facility was built for the police in 2012 by the administration of Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. It was specifically built for the police by the state government. So, I am surprised that the local government will suddenly come up with its claim.
“I just want to put things in the right perspective in case they are not adequately informed. That is our position on the matter. This is definitely part of the onslaught against the SARS by the state government to discredit me and my men. But like I said earlier, all these will not deter us from continuing in our determination to render security services to the people of Rivers State”, Fakorede said.
There has been sustained campaign by the state government and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state to have the SARS commander investigated and redeployed from the state.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, earlier in the week, gave reasons why the government wanted Fakorede out of the state.
He alleged that SARS was aiding all sorts of crimes ranging from election rigging to kidnapping, armed robberies and murder.
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