Abia police lay siege to former CJ over govt property

04.02.2008

Men of the Abia State police command laid siege to the Umuahia GRA residence of the former Chief Justice of the state, Justice Kalu Amah, for two days, in an attempt to retrieve the government property in his possession two years after he left office.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Umuahia, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ali Okechukwu, who confirmed the incident, also explained that the police had a valid search warrant to enter the home of the former chief judge and retrieve government property in his possession two years after he was relieved of his job.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that Justice Amah, whose appointment was terminated through a public announcement on the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) TV and the radio by the former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, allegedly erred for complaining to the press that the judiciary was starved of fund during his tenure as the CJ.

It was also gathered from the sympathizers of the former CJ that since his ouster, he has neither received any formal letter to that effect nor paid his gratuity, hence he decided to keep the official vehicles in his possession to himself.

However, last Wednesday, a detachment of police officers, armed with their guns and a search warrant, signed by a high court judge, Justice A.U.Kalu, were assigned to retrieve the official vehicles in the possession of Justice Amah.

On getting to the GRA residence of the former CJ, Nigerian Tribune learnt that the policemen were disallowed entry, thereby prompting the siege.

The police spokesman said that the former CJ treated the police with contempt even though they were legally empowered to enter the home and confiscate the vehicles he kept with him, adding that the police, however, exercised maximum restraint because of the personality involved.