Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were today prevented by the police from gaining access to the Assembly to resume legislative functions.
This development comes barely 48 hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the National Assembly from taking over the legislative functions of the State Assembly.
Acting on the orders of the court to resume its legislative duties, the lawmakers, numbering about 25, at about 9am proceeded to the Assembly Complex in a white coaster bus but were suddenly stopped halfway by men of the Nigeria Police in the state headed by Mbu Joseph Mbu.
The Rivers State Police Command had barricaded the road leading to the Assembly Complex, causing a heavy traffic jam on the Moscow road axis.
When the legislators, led by Deputy Speaker Leyii Kwanne, accosted the police to ask why they were being prevented from performing their constitutional duties, the police said were yet to receive the court judgement ordering the lawmakers to resume duty.
Following the resistance of the police, the legislators resorted to seating in the sun to commence their preliminary session, presided over by Hon. Kwanee. The police responded by firing several teargas canisters to disperse them. Some gun shots were also fired.
A few minutes later, Police Commissioner Mbu drove by but did not stop.
Saharareporters
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