Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, leads thugs to attack, sack court in Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dicks   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QK4wIfwpdU&feature=youtube_gdata_play

eron,
on Monday led a gang of thugs to attack a
Federal High court in Bayelsa, a video
obtained by PREMIUM TIMES has shown.
The video shows the governor, dressed in
traditional Ijaw blazers, walking into the
court premises, accompanied by his police
guards and hangers on, before hooligans,
including rifle wielding police officers,
invaded and attacked the court.
The thugs were chanting “we no go gree, for
this state, e no possible” as they walked into
a court hearing. Loud gunshots could be
heard shortly before the hooligans began
breaking glasses and destroying properties
inside the court.
At least 15 lawyers, including a pregnant
woman and two Senior Advocates of
Nigeria, were in the court during the attack.
The governor walked out of the court
premises at the peak of the attack.
Most police officers seen within the court
premises during the attack either aided the
attacker or looked on, idly.
Only one police officer was seen, in the
video, after the attack, trying to help the
injured.
The thugs upturned chairs within the court
room, scattered files all over and shattered
glass windows as lawyers ducked under
tables. A female lawyer covered herself with
a chair.
Another could be heard saying her upper
arm was hurting.
An elderly man, who was seemingly brought
out of the court room by police officers,
gasping for breath, said he was badly beaten
by the thugs who came into the court room.
“The governor and his troops walked into
the court room and I was beated (sic),” the
victim said.
Why Dickson stormed the court
According to Heineken Lokpobiri, a serving
senator, the court was in session to deliver a
judgment on his case against the governor’s
preferred senatorial candidate, Foster Ogola,
over the validity of the later’s candidacy for
Bayelsa West senatorial district.
Mr. Lopkobiri claimed his party, the Peoples
Democratic Party illegally substituted his
name with Mr. Foster’s, and had filed a suit
accusing Mr. Foster of issuing false
information to INEC.
Mr. Lokpobiri added that the attack on the court was the
second, claiming that earlier, thugs had come to seal the
court and stopped the Judge from entering the court,
forcing an adjournment.
Mr. Lokpobiri told PREMIUMTIMES he was shocked and
irritated by the governor’s action at the court.
Mr. Lokpobiri said the governor has the right to support
his opponent, but has no right to bring thugs to attack the
court.
“All these things happened in the presence of the
commissioner of police and am surprised. If the governor
did not lead the thugs, it would have been a different thing
entirely,” he said.
The governor’s spokesman, Daneil Iworiso, told PREMIUM
TIMES the incumbent governor did not lead any gang to the
court.
But in the video, Governor Dickson was clearly seen
storming, and at the end of the attack, leaving the court
accompanied by thugs and police officers.
Mr. Iworiso however described the video as photoshopped.
“You know its election time and we need to ensure that no
violence occurs in our state, as soon as we heard of the
clash we went there with commissioner of police and
armed men to try to cub the situation that was when we
found out it was a case between the incumbent governor
and aspiring governor,” he said.
He explained that the governor was not there when the
clash started, stating that it was all propaganda.
“When I saw the video I was just laughing because it was
all photo shoot, and I describe that as poor representation
of what happened there and I was also there,” he said.
Mr. Iworiso accused Mr. Lokpobiri of also bringing thugs to
the just-concluded PDP primaries, stating that he is known
for carrying thugs around Bayelsa state.
Mr. Lokpobiri admitted he has a loud crowd and
followership but that his followers and loyalists are
peaceful.
“If he is accusing me of carrying thugs in the last
primaries, did they destroy anything or harm anyone
during the election,” Mr. Lokpobiri said.
Although several police officers were present when the
attack occurred, the Bayelsa Police Command said no arrest
has been made in relation to the incident.
Asinim Butswat, the state police spokesperson, said he had
no information that the governor led the thugs to the court
premises.
“What we know is that the governor visited the court and
the thugs took advantage of his visit to force the gate open
and invade the court,” Mr. Butswat said.
“The police officers on the court premises did not know the
thugs came to cause havoc because they were not armed.
“After they attacked the court, they all fled before they
could be arrested.”
Mr. Buswat denied the state police commissioner was
present when the court was attacked, saying he only visited
the court “shortly after the incident.