Edo
By DADA AYOKHAI
The Edo State Government has warned that no individual or group has the right to enforce a court ruling while an appeal is pending.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesman Ebojele Patrick, Commissioner for Public Safety Festus Ebea said the judiciary belongs to the state and its processes must be respected.
Ebea said government would not tolerate anyone attempting to subvert the courts, undermine authority or hold Okpella hostage after the recent ruling on traditional leadership.
He warned that anyone breaching the peace would be dealt with decisively.
”The government has credible intelligence indicating that certain unscrupulous elements — having already been cautioned — have brazenly defied its earlier directive and are now actively scheming to unleash mayhem on the community.”
”All relevant security agencies are hereby alerted to be on code red, while law enforcement officers deployed to monitor the situation in Okpella should be active. Any act of self-help, forceful takeover, intimidation, harassment, or disruption of the traditional institution — by any person, faction, or group — is illegal, absolutely intolerable, and will attract immediate and decisive government response.”
”All law-abiding stakeholders, community leaders, and residents of Okpella are advised to remain calm, exercise restraint, and allow the judicial process to run its full and unobstructed course.”
