Ex-Rivers Information Commissioner Semenitari Berates Wike Over Invasion of Her Residence

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Thursday, June 18th, 2015

By Collins Amadi – The immediate past Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari has condemned the Rivers State Government for breaking into her residence in Port Harcourt using policemen armed with machine guns.

In a statement Issued on Thursday and made available to newsmen, the former commissioner stated that the armed policemen said they were sent by the Rivers state government to recover government vehicles in her possession.

“On Thursday June 18, 2015, over 10 policemen armed with machine guns and in two trucks – One Ford Transit and One Hilux arrived my residence, No 12A Ernest Ikoli Street, Old G.R.A Port Harcourt. Without either a search warrant, letter or previous information, they forced their way into my premises.

“My security guard on duty requested to know their mission and who sent them. They refused to disclose either, but went round taking photographs and videoing my premises. The security guard got in touch with my assistant who spoke with the men, explaining to them that I was out of town and again requested to know their mission and purpose. Again they declined insisting on seeing me first. She then got in touch with me by phone as we were uncertain as to the identity of the policemen in question.

“Upon further investigation and after about 3 hours of them laying siege on my premise, I was told that they were from Rivers State Government House and had been sent to recover vehicles in my possession.

“They attempted to break into a Range Rover Jeep belonging to my Husband and bought long before I was made Commissioner in Rivers State Government, damaging the front door. The vehicle in question contrary to the lies being paraded is not an armoured vehicle and has never at any point belonged to the Rivers State Government nor its agents including myself as Commissioner of Information.

“By the time I finally made contact with them and expressed my displeasure, they insisted that they would take away a Lexus jeep duly allocated to me as Commissioner of Information and which by law I am entitled to leave with upon leaving office.

“The monetization policy of the government allows public officers to leave government with their official vehicles as this is in lieu of vehicle, allowance, transport and other allowances, which they cannot draw because of the monetization policy of 2002. Mr. Nyesom Wike served as Chief of Staff, and upon departure left with all the vehicles he used as Chief of Staff. This has been the practice since this democratic dispensation when President Olusegun Obassanjo instituted the monetisation policy.”

Mrs Semenitari further explained that “having served as Commissioner for two tenures, I am entitled to my status cars and have proof of allocation. While I understand that Mr. Wike feels a dire need to destroy the reputation of Governor Amaechi and all those worked with him, it is unacceptable that he will engage in brigandage, thuggery and underhand tactics to do so. A simple letter from any government official requesting me to make a submission or tender documentation would have been the appropriate way to go and I would have willingly tendered all the relevant documents to them.”

According to her, breaking into her home, damaging her property and removing property from the premises are grossly inappropriate and illegal.

“I have chosen however to put out these details in the public space as it is apparent that for some persons only a destruction of my hard earned reputation would do and this I would not accept. My records in the Ministry of Information are crystal clear I hope that Mr. Nyesom Wike is able to say same about his tenure in every office he has held.

“Forcing their way into my home unlawfully isn’t the appropriate way for any government that claims legitimacy to behave.” She concludes.

 

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