By Cajetan Mmuta
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC) against the alleged forceful eviction of duly elected executives from its Secretariats by the Nigerian Police.
The Alhaji Sanusi Fari-led national leadership faction of IPMAN made the complaint in a petition signed by Daniel Mgbe, Esq. of Emmanuel Okang & Co Chambers, submitted and acknowledged on Sept.27.
A copy was made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Awka the Anambra state capital by Mr. Chidi Nnubia, Secretary-General of the Fari-led faction of the body.
The petition was entitled “Re: Over Exercising Of Official Authority By DIG. J. O.Egbunike, Deputy-inspector General in Incharge Of Force Criminal Investigation And Intelligence Department”
It alleged that the police, on the instruction of the DIG forcefully evicted them from Abuja National Office, Port Harcourt, and Enugu Depot Secretariats respectively.
The faction said the act was illegal as it violated the spirit of a subsisting Supreme Court judgment which was in their favor, adding that the police was aware of the said judgment
“It is our client’s brief that the Nigeria Police on the instruction of DIG Egbunike unlawfully July 5 evicted them from their offices in Abuja
National Headquarters, Enugu and Port-Harcourt depot offices respectively.”
“They also threaten to sack our Client’s officials nationwide despite subsisting Supreme Court judgments and the interpretation of the said judgment by the Federal High Court, Calabar division.”
“Annexed is the ruling of the Federal High Court Calabar in suit No. FHC/CA/CS/3/2019 delivered on June 19, the report of the execution of the said court order in favor of our clients dated June 19.”
“The interpretation endorsed the leadership of IPMAN led by Engr Sanusi Abdul Fari and his executives nationwide,” it stated.
The Fari-led group said it had filed an action at the Federal High Court, Calabar seeking judicial interpretation of the actions of the Nigeria Police in Suit No. FHC/CA/CS/69/2021.
It urged the PSC to wade into the situation to avoid the breakdown of law and order.
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According to the petitioners, we strongly believe that the conduct of DIG Egbunike in the imbroglio is unprofessional, unlawful, and smacks of personal interest.
“It is imperative to note that the Police cannot interpret court judgments nor has the powers to execute same without recourse to Section 4 of the Police Act, Section 15 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).
“We, therefore, beseech you to call the DIG to order to forestall further breakdown of the law and order as his actions are a threat to our Constitutional democracy and the doctrine of separation of power,” it stated.
It would be recalled that IPMAN has been having a crisis between the Fari and Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo factions over who is the authentic leadership of the association
