By JIMITOTA ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT — CHIEF of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, yesterday, dismissed the probe ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, into the aborted rally of the Save Rivers Movement by the Police on January 12, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, River State, as another charade.

Okocha, in an  interview with  newsmen in Port Harcourt, expressed doubts that the Police could  indict itself at the end of the probe, if  its men  were found wanting.

It will be recalled that the Police aborted a rally of the Save Rivers Movement in Obio/Akpor council recently, during which Magnus Abe was allegedly shot with a rubber bullet by them.

Okocha, who said he voluntarily testified before the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, when it visited Government House, Port Harcourt last week, expressing confidence in the ability of the Senate Committee to unravel the truth in the alleged abuse of federal might  by the Police on the said day.

He said: “I volunteered my statement to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs because I have confidence in them and I also believe that they will do a thorough job. Although I have not been invited by the committee set up by the IG, I may not want to speak to the committee (set by the IG), for the reason that a person cannot be a judge in his case.

“Again, I also doubt that the police will have the will to write a report that will indict the police.  I don’t trust the committee set up by the IG.  I have no confidence in police committee.”

Okocha who showed newsmen some shells of the bullets allegedly expended by   the Police during its operations, said Senator Abe actually came to rescue him when he (Senator) heard he was caught in the middle of the Police action.

“I couldn’t understand it because they were shooting at me directly. The whole place was engulfed in smoke. So, some of the boys that were standing close to me started shouting: ‘Oga, run, run you are the target.’ Confused and shocked, I stood looking at what was happening. The boys couldn’t take it anymore and began pushing me out of the venue.”