Trouble is brewing in Chiwota Close, off Rumuolumeni-Elioparanwo Road in Obio Akpor Local Government Area, following allegations that one Hon. Michael Kingsley, said to be a two-time member of the House of Representatives and described as ‘extremely influential politician’, was using the police to harass and intimidate some landlords in the Close.
Mr. Daniel Ndamati alleged he was unjustly molested and detained by the police from Zone 16 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, because he tried to stop the accused from erecting a structure which he claimed, had blocked the road, generally used by all in the Close.
Ndamatiwho was fielding questions from journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday said he becameincensed by the actions of the politician as the matter was pending before a Port Harcourt High Court in suit no. PHC/4716/CS/2020.
“I and a fellow landlord, Mr. Uchenna Charles Obi are in court to stop Hon. Kingsley from building a structure which stretched into the road in the Close. I would not want to discuss the case in the media to avoid contempt of the court.
“But while the matter is still pending before a court of competent jurisdiction, the accused went ahead to erect his structure, blocking the road, my passage to the Close”, he narrated.
“I reported the matter at the Rumuolumeni Police Divisional Station who investigated the matter and made their report, affirming that the structure was on the road. Not satisfied, Hon. Kingsleywent to the State CID and office of the Commissioner of Police, and both offices asked him to discontinue with the structure as it clearly covered the road.
“I was in my house on Monday, January 11, 2021 when some policemen came from Zone 16 in Bayelsa State and picked me up. They molested and tore my trouser and forced me into their vehicle, and took me to Yenagoa”, he lamented.
Ndamati narrated that soon as the accused saw that police had taken him away, he mobilized workers to dug up the road and commenced with erection of the structure, unperturbed that the case was in court.
The claimant added that the policemen were allegedly ordered to pull down his gate and that of the second plaintiff, Mr. Uchenna Charles Obi.
“For the whole of the period I was away, there was no gate to protect my family and you can see the dangers they were exposed to”, he said and appealed to the necessary authorities to call Hon. Kingsley to order.
Speaking on the issue, the second plaintiff, Mr. Uchenna Charles Obi, whose house is directly facing that of Hon. Kingsley, said he travelled out of town on January 11, 2021 and received a call from an unknown number alleging that some persons suspected to be sent by Hon. Kingsley has destroyed his building and tried to raise another fence.
“I called my wife to go and find out what was happening. On getting there, my wife confirmed what I was told and I directed her to do a video recording of what was going on. And while she was doing the recording, she was molested and the accused asked his boys to tie my wife up and they did so and also seized the phone which she used to video-record the scene”, narrated Obi.
In his response to reporters’ questions, counsel to 1st and 2nd Claimants, Victor Christian Oroko Esq, said the matter in question involved his clients and five Defendants including Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police who are 4th and 5th defendants.
“Since we went to court, the defendants under the guise and aid of the 4th and 5th defendants have been harassing my clients, particularly the 1st Claimant, Ndamati. They molested him, took him to the State CID and as if that was not enough, they took him to AIG. This is coming after being served properly”, the lawyer said.
The lawyer said his client was released after his intervention, adding that he complied with the process of the usual ‘police bail’.
He alleged that Hon. Kingsley (1st defendant) kept over twenty policemen in his premises, regretting that his conduct was not befitting of a two-time member of the National Assembly and urged him to maintain the status-quo and stop further harassment of his clients.
When this medium reached out to Hon. Kingsley through his phone line for comments, he said he was unaware of what our reporter was talking about.
His words: “I don’t have any single idea of what you are saying, not even one! I repeat, I don’t have an idea and don’t know what you are saying, no idea at all”.
