Police commissioner sentenced to prison over non-compliance to court order

A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced the State Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, to prison for failing to comply with a court order.

The Court order, stemmed from an earlier ruling delivered on November 26, 2016, in suit number YHC/210/2014, which upheld a ruling from the Court of Appeal regarding an appeal identified by suit number CA/PH/170/2018.

The ruling favoured the nine families of Yenizue-gene Community concerning a parcel of land in Asam that is currently utilized as the operational base for the state-owned security agency, “Operation Doo-Akpo.”

The families involved include the Fabiri, Ayoko, Aku, Ugbon, and Obediah families, along with the Sampson and Boye families of Yenizue-gene community in Yenagoa Local Government area of Bayelsa State.

During a press briefing, the lead Counsel for the Claimants, Ukunbiriowei Saiyou, confirmed that the court order to imprison the Commissioner of Police was issued following a ruling from the presiding judge, Honorable Justice R. Ajuwa, on December 27, 2024.

He indicated that the claimants initiated committal proceedings against the Commissioner of Police back in 2022 due to his noncompliance with a ruling from a competent court. And that the Police refuses to appear for proceedings nor challenge the various decisions of the Court.

The application for committal was formally addressed in 2024, resulting in the court’s decision to incarcerate the Commissioner.

The Inspector General of Police has been urged to take action to ensure the Commissioner of Police of Bayelsa State Command complies with the judgments issued by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt on June 10, 2021, or face potential arrest.

Saiyou highlighted that since Saipem vacated the parcel of land in Asam, located along Elebele-Opolo Road and currently housing Operation Doo-Akpo, the nine families have been unlawfully denied possession of their property.

He noted that the police and Operation Doo-Akpo have occupied the land without the consent of the families, prompting legal action. The Bayelsa State High Court ruled in favour of the families, a decision later reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal.

In a joint statement, representatives of the nine families, Chief Honest Boye Wilson and Hon. Manager Fabiri, voiced their concerns regarding the unlawful use of their land.

They emphasized their commitment to remaining peaceful and law-abiding citizens, refraining from public demonstrations against either the state government or the police.