Nigeria Police Force lacks power to proscribe us - Peace Corps
- The Peace Corps of Nigeria has reacted to a statement by the Nigeria Police Force that its activities remains illegal
- Its spokesperson, Millicent Umoru, dismissed the police stance that it's organisation has been proscribed
- She accused the police of whipping up negative sentiments against the Corps
- The PCN and the NPF have been having a running battle since last year
The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), on Wednesday, January 17, dismissed claims by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), that its organisation has been proscribed.
According to the PCN, the police lacks the capacity to proscribe any registered organisation in Nigeria.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the spokesperson of the PCN, Millicent Umoru, said it was only the Attorney-General of the Federation that possesses such powers as to issue federal government gazette, with the approval of the president.
READ ALSO: Federal High Court declares continuous siege on Peace Corps headquarters illegal
She dared the police to tender such gazette to the public, if it exists, adding that, “Federal Government gazette is a public document and not a police diary.”
Umoru said the so called proscription of the Corps that the police spokesman Moshood alluded to was a mere pronouncement by the police.
“Meanwhile, that pronouncement was duly challenged in the court of law, where His Lordship Justice Ibrahim Auta, the then Chief Judge of the Federal High Court declared it a nullity and gave stern warning never to do such or even make reference to it again. It might interest Nigerians to know that, the police did not appeal this judgement till date," she stated.
On the excuse that the police would not vacate PCN property as the court ruling has been appealed against, Umoru said the police was been economical with the truth by claiming that there was a stay of execution.
“Issuing a press statement a day after Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered judgement, turning the ill-motivated request to seal the office of the Peace Corps and even went further to order them (police) to unseal the building, shows that the police has lost its respect for the sanctity of the rule of law and a clear indication that it is overtly desperate to tarnish the hard earned image of our organisation.
“The same police satanic statement equally came the same day that the Senate overwhelmingly called on our amiable President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly assent to the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill, so that its members who are mostly graduates can fill in the gap in complementing the efforts of security agencies in tacking crime through intelligence gathering and neighbourhood watch," she said.
Umoru also accused the police of whipping up negative sentiments against the Corps, which is internationally recognised by the United Nations and the African Union, so as to frustrate the highly anticipated presidential assent.
In a press statement sent to Legit.ng on Tuesday, January 16, the police said the operation of the PCN remains illegal and accused it of engaging in crime.
The police said it raided and sealed the Abuja office of the organisation because of its illegal operation particularly collecting money from unsuspecting Nigerians for recruitment.
READ ALSO: Much-anticipated Peace Corps bill arrives presidency for assent
How Nigerian youths protest made the National Assembly pass the 'Not Too Young To Run' bill on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
