*As APC seeks probe of Wike’s alleged phone call recording

*Ex-Rivers Commissioner denies link with killers of DSP Alkali

By Jimitota Onoyume, Davies Iheamnachor & Omeiza Ajayi

The Inspector-General of Police, IG, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has promised to prosecute those behind the killing of policemen during the legislative re-run elections in Rivers State.

Idris made the promise when the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, paid him a condolence visit in Abuja, yesterday.

IGP-Idris

He said: “I want to assure you and the country that we will not leave any stone un-turned in apprehending and prosecuting those behind the dastardly act.”

He said that the officers were killed in the line of duty to their fatherland.

The IG said that the situation in Rivers State called for the contribution and support of government and party leaders.

“The incidents in Rivers State show that we need the support of the people in the areas where elections were held. The situation in Rivers State has shown that we must say no to election violence in the country,” he said.

APC demands probe
Meanwhile, All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state has called on the Police, the Department for State Services, DSS, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the International Criminal Court, ICC, to investigate the alleged telephone conversation in which Governor Nyesom Wike of the state threatened to kill electoral officials.

APC also called on the security agencies to give due attention to the beheading of a Deputy Superintendent of Police among other killings in the December 10, parliamentary re-run elections in the state.

Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the state Chairman of APC, Chief Davies Ikanya, described the alleged telephone conversation as a proof of APC’s calls for a probe of the governor’s activities.

Similarly, former Commissioner for Power in the state, Mr Augustine Nwokocha, has denied sponsoring any cult group to murder DSP Mohammed Alkali and his driver at Uju community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of the state on the day of the re-run elections in the state as alleged in an online report.

The former Commissioner, Mr Nwokocha, served during the tenure of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi, now Minister of Transportation.

He said the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was behind the allegation against him.

According to him, the names mentioned as alleged killers of the senior police officer and his driver in the online report are members of the PDP in the state.

“I will like the matter to be properly investigated if the Police said they linked me with the crime. This is an attempt by the PDP to rope me into the matter. The boys mentioned are known members of the PDP. They use them for killings and other related acts. They are members the PDP in my local government, so I do not know why I will sponsor thugs of another party.

PDP denies allegation
Meantime, the PDP has dismissed Nwokocha’s allegations, saying those arrested were not members of the party.

Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr Sam Nwonosike, said Nwokocha’s statement had confirmed that the audio phone allegations made against Governor Wike by the online medium was a ruse.

He said Nwokocha should allow the Police conclude their investigation before denying same.

“He (Nwokocha) has by his statement confirmed that the story against the governor in an online medium is not true. It should be dismissed as false.”

Meantime, INEC has constituted a four-member administrative panel of inquiry into the role of its staff in the conduct of the December 10 state and federal legislative re-run elections in Rivers State.

The commission, in its Wednesday bulletin in Abuja, said the Committee is chaired by one of its national commissioners, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu.