Peace Corps of Nigeria members on parade

The Nigeria Police has promised to unseal the headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) before the next sitting of the investigative hearing by the House Committee on Public Petitions.

The National Commandant of PCN, Mr Dickson Akoh, told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Sadiq Bello, gave him the assurance on a phone conversation.

Akoh later led officials of the corps to the premises of the office in Jabi, demanding for the reopening of the complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Justice and Equity, had on Jan. 25, petitioned the National Assembly over sealing of the PCN office by the police.

The group accused the police of disobeying subsisting court order in favour of the corps.
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions had earlier directed the police to vacate the headquarters of the PCN, which has been under lock and key since Feb. 28, 2017.

Akoh lauded the police for approaching the matter in a civil way, saying this is the first time the police is speaking with them respectfully.

“Since they have for the first time spoken to us in a very humane manner, we will not disrespect superior order, we respect constituted authority and in that spirit we will leave.

“The CP has intervened and we will disengage because we are peaceful people and their approach was very civil.

“If this matter had been handled this way by the then CP, engaging and discussing with us, it would not have got to this level,” he said.

Akoh appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to accent to the PCN Bill, which was forwarded to him since January

The bill, he said, would alleviate the suffering of some young Nigerians seeking employment, adding that PCN will focus on gathering intelligence for security especially at the community level.

Besides, Akoh appealed for the urgent Federal Government intervention to settle its annual rent of N13.5 million, which had lapsed without being used.

The convener of the civil society organisations, Mr Olayemi Success, stressed the need for every institution of government, especially the police, to obey court orders.

The next sitting of the investigative hearing by the House Committee on Public Petitions, on the petition filed by the coalition will be on Feb. 27.