Police Speaks On Arrest Of Rotimi Amaechi

The Rivers State Police Command has dispelled reports that the
former governor of the State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi was arrested on
Wednesday by the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman
Belel, on allegations of corruption.

The Command in a statement signed by the Public Relations
Officer of the Command, Nnamdi Omoni, noted that there was no time
that police opened any investigation of Amaechi, who is now the
Minister of Transportation, before effecting arrest on him
(Amaechi).

Reports had trended on the social media claimed to have
allegedly emanated from African Independent Television, alleging
that Amaechi has been arrested by the CP in the state, Belel.

But Omoni, who is a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in the
statement, urged members of the public to disregard the report as
it is targeted at blackmailing the CP.

The statement read: “The attention of the Rivers State
Police Command has been drawn to an item of news making the rounds
in the Social Media, credited to AIT Nigeria News, on the purported
arrest of the Ex- Governor of Rivers State and Minister of
Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in his home by the
Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command at the early
hours of today 23/1/2019, on the allegation of corruption, directed
by the Inspector General of Police.

“It has become increasingly necessary at this stage to put
the records straight and state unequivocally as follows: That the
Ex-Governor of Rivers State and Hon. Minister of Transportation, RT
Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was never arrested by the Commissioner
of Police, Rivers State Command or any Security Agency for that
matter, as reported by the AIT medium.

“That the general public is hereby enjoined to disregard and
discountenance the above news report as being mischievous,
ill-conceived, diversionary and only intended to undermine the
security situation in the State and harass the Nigeria Police Force
and the person of the Ex-Governor and Hon. Minister of
Transportation.

“The Commissioner of Police wishes to assure the general
public that there is no cause for alarm, as the state is peaceful
and all business activities are going on peacefully. The Command
under the watch of the Commissioner of Police, CP Usman A.
Belel is committed to ensuring that the existing peace is
sustained.”

He further added that the Police Commissioner has ordered
for thorough investigation into the said report with a view to
bringing any body or group found complicit to justice.