Rivers Judiciary Drama: Police Reveal Details On Judge’s Missing Orderly

The Rivers State Police Command has denied claims that it deliberately withdrew the police orderly assigned to Justice Mrs. Augusta Kingsley Chukwu.

In a statement released by its spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command explained that the orderly was part of a group of officers deployed to Anambra State for the off-cycle gubernatorial election, alongside other personnel.

SP Iringe-Koko stressed that the move was a routine operational requirement affecting multiple officers and was not targeted at any individual or the judiciary as a whole. She described reports suggesting the orderly’s withdrawal was deliberate as a “complete misrepresentation of facts.”

The Police assured that the officers would return to their previous duty posts once their national assignment concluded.

“The Rivers State Police Command wishes to clarify recent social media reports falsely alleging the withdrawal of the police orderly assigned to Hon. Justice Mrs. Augusta Kingsley Chukwu. This claim is unequivocally false.

“The officer was deployed as part of a national assignment to Anambra State for the off-cycle gubernatorial election, a routine operation affecting several personnel, and not exclusive to the judiciary.

“Upon completion of the assignment, the officer will immediately resume duties. This action was not aimed at any particular judge or the judiciary, as we value our partnership in the administration of justice and remain committed to providing adequate security to all judges.

“The deployment was part of legitimate national operations. The Rivers State Police Command remains dedicated to safeguarding members of the judiciary and the citizens of Rivers State with integrity,” the statement read.

This clarification comes after the Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN) alleged that the withdrawal was an attempt to intimidate the judiciary and undermine the rule of law. The group also linked the action to a recent judgment delivered by Justice Chukwu against the Nigeria Police Force in suit number PHC/1785/CR/2024.