* Headquarters still sealed by police * I’ve been vindicated, says Akoh The National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Dickson Akoh, has vowed to resume at the headquarters of the outfit on Monday, which is still sealed by the Police Force. He said his resumption is predicated on the Federal High Court Abuja’s ruling last Thursday, which awarded N12.5m as damages against the Police Force and Inspector General of Police over violation of Akoh’s rights and some of its members. Justice Gabriel Kolawole gave the award in a judgment on a fundamental right suit filed by Akoh and others. Men of the Police Force on February 28 invaded the Abuja headquarters of the PCN during its commissioning and arrested Akoh with 49 other members, who were later detained. Akoh and others later filed a suit against their arrest and detention, claiming N2billion damages. They listed the Nigeria Police Force, IGP, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS) and its Director-General as respondents. Justice Kolawole also ordered the police to immediately unseal PCN’s headquarters at 57, Iya Abubakar Crescent off Alex Ekwueme way, opposite Jabi Lake, Jabi, Abuja. Speaking to newsmen yesterday on the judgment and recent development, Akoh said: “The PCN headquarters has not been vacated. “This order was given last Thursday as it was supposed to take effect immediately. As far as law is concerned a court order is a public pronouncement and public document. “As I am talking to you, police are still sealing the headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, (PCN). Their truck is still there. They should obey this court order to vacate the PCN headquarters. “I think what the police is looking for is for us to revolt so that they can use it to justify our actions and look for another charges to hold us.” He went on: “We will resume the office on Monday because by Monday if we have our document with a court order, we will resume there. “I was wrongly accused and I have never received any money from government. “As a voluntary organisation, if you want to join you need uniform and kits. “And if you want to go for the orientation you pay N40, 000 that was the only accusation that the police are holding on to. “The IGP never gave me the opportunity to defend myself. In their bid to rush and take me to court, they did not look at the reality on ground and I could not have opened up some facts. “It is not done in any society. I have travelled widely courtesy of PCN to United Nations (UN) programmes but there is no country in the world that someone of IGP status that has been accused of been fraudulent and he is still in office.” “The police can appeal on this matter. With my little knowledge, the police have made me to be very knowledgeable in law now. “As far as we are concerned whether they appeal thinking that they would delay they must deposit that money in the treasury of the corps. “Apart from this issue I would appreciate if government can setup a committee to investigate me, I have not committed any crime. “But the problem they have is that I started an organisation whose bill has been passed. With that they felt very disturbing. “The judgment has restored people’s interest in the organisation. My friends at a particular point stated avoiding me. “People that I know with those I have helped before were saying so this man is a ‘419’ person. “So he is running an organisation that is not known. But today calls and congratulatory messages have started coming from some of these people.”]]>

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