Police deny invading Amaechi’s aide’s residence

THE Rivers State Police Command has denied invading the residence of the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha. The command said contrary to the claim by Okocha, the police did not break into the residence of Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s aide or withdraw policemen attached to him. Speaking while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, explained that while the SSG was entitled to only one orderly, the chief of staff, Government House, was not entitled to any police orderly or guard. Mohammad, who described the claim that security operatives invaded Okocha residence as false and an attempt to score cheap popularity and whip up public sentiment, said the command would continue to protect the governor, lives of the people and property in the state. “The Rivers State Police Command hearby react to the recent outcry by Chief Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Rivers State, in his endless attempts to score cheap popularity and whip up public sentiment, that policemen invaded and broke into his house and withdrew some policemen attached to him. “The command wishes to state categorically that there was no such incident and that the statement was false and misleading. Going by the existing circular from the police authority, the chief of staff is not entitled to police orderly or guard. “However, for the avoidance of doubt, the Secretary to the State Government is entitled to only one police orderly,” the state police spokesman said. He pointed out that while Amaechi had 32 policemen attached to him, 20 security operatives were attached to the governor’s wife. “The deputy governor’s escort has 20 policemen while only 12 policemen are attached to the deputy governor’s wife. The Secretary to the State Government has five policemen attached to his office while the entire Government House has 109 policemen attached to it. “The five policemen attached to the Chief of Staff is a privilege because he is not entitled to any policeman or guard. The cumulative number of policemen attached to the state governor stands at 287,” Mohammad stressed. He called on members of the public to disregard the claim that it withdrew policemen attached to the chief of staff, describing it as misleading. Reacting, Okocha said, “I am not the first chief of staff in Rivers State and I am not the only chief of staff in Nigeria.