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I had resolved that throughout this trying times, I shall do everything not to compromise the actions of the Rivers State Governor in the fight of the Corona Virus by the tone of my criticisms and policy analyses. This is a resolve that I do not intend to take lightly. In the light of that therefore, I shall in few paragraphs call/appeal to the Attorney General, and indeed the Governor and Government, of Rivers State to review the ADJOURNMENT of the trial of the two Carveton Helicopter Pilots, whose case was adjourned to 19th May, 2020. I shall do so by posing some questions.
For those who may not be aware, the facts were that two Pilots of Carveton Helicopter were arrested by the Rivers State Government Task Force on the Fight against Covid-19 for flying some expatriate workers in the Oil and Gas sector into Rivers State. The Pilots and expatriates claim to have work exemption permit to operate. They were arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court for “disobedience to order of Rivers State Government” among others. The Chief Magistrate remanded the pilots in prison custody till 19 May 2020, when their trial is to commence. Senior Law Enforcement Officials within and of the Rivers State were in Court during the arraignment, including the Officer in Charge (O/C) Legal, Rivers State Police Command and the Honorable the Attorney General of Rivers State. Note that my concern is not the propriety or otherwise of the defense of the pilots or how the Government decides to screen them, thus I refrain from commenting on those.
As I have maintained, the Governor and his team have better facts to mine as far as the Covid-19 fight in Rivers State is concerned, therefore I shall concede to their answers without attempting any of the questions. However, I honestly seek clarification on the following questions:
– What is the primary arm of the Executive Order made by the Government and the Social Distancing Policy?
– What is the maximum term for the offense committed by the pilots (if such offense exists in Rivers State)? one month, years, life, death, fine, all?
– Is not the period between 7th April (today) to 19th May when the case is adjourned to more than a month?
– Might they be serving out the terms for the offense even before they are tried?
– Is the duration for quarantine for a Covid-19 suspect not 14days?
– Which is the Law and the section of which the Pilots violated by the “disobedience to order of Rivers State Government”?
– Has the AG Rivers State the authority of the AG Federation to prosecute the federal offense?
– Is the purpose of the enforcement to persecute offenders rather than to correct them and deter others?
– Is the offense committed not a summary conviction offense which the magistrate is empowered and could hear evidence and dispense with within the same day or the day following, assuming they pleaded not guilty?
– Were the Pilots remanded and in which facility? And if in any public holding facility, is it not likely they are risk to other inmates should they have Covid-19 or the others a risk onto them should they be clean?
– Is this case a reaction of the Rivers State Government and to drive home “our” allegation that the Federal Government is “politicizing“ the fight against disease?
– What is the reason, reasoning for adjourning the trial for more than one month, at this time?
So many questions space will not permit me to ask. I do not know these men and I am not their Attorney. However, I appeal to the Honorable Attorney General of Rivers State, Prof. Zacheus Adango (my former teacher), as the Chief Law Officer of the State, to please put a human face to the enforcement of the Executive Order of the Governor. He should call for the review of the Adjournment date. It is consistent with good conscience, the policy of social distancing, the powers of the Attorney General and above all it is
in the best interest of justice.
Persecution breeds Resistance, Requital, Treachery; and these are not what the State need at this time. It will not augur well at a time like this
Long Live Rivers State.
Achinike William-Wobodo
Lawyer & Public Policy Analyst
Writing from Port Harcourt.