Family accuses ex-Rivers APC Women leader of using police to detain pregnant Gardner

By Okafor Ifiebor/Rivers

The family of Mrs. Mercy Elvis, a gardener working with Caroline Naagbo, a former women leader of All Progressive Congress, APC, in Rivers State has cried out over alleged detention by the Police following allegations of theft levelled against her by her boss.

The elder brother to the detained Gardener, Mr Samuel Aru, told journalists that his sister(Mercy Elvis) was arrested over the case of a missing water pump on Thursday (August 31st,2023).

He said Elvis has since then been detained at the Olu-Obasanjo Police Division in Port Harcourt and has been denied bail, despite the fact that the alleged offence is bailable.

He said the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) told him that Mrs Naagbo instructed that Elvis should not be granted bail until she pays N120,000, the cost of the missing water pump or provides a replacement.

Aru expressed shock that a police officer would take directives from a complainant and jettison professionalism in the discharge of his duty.

He disclosed that his sister has not been feeling well because she is pregnant and has not been able to take her drugs. He further said from the action of the police is evident that his sister cannot get a fair hearing in the case.

Meanwhile, a human rights Lawyer, Jane James, who is also a member of the Human Rights Committee, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA who was at the station accused the Police Division of taking laws into their hands.

Mrs James said a suspect accused of a crime is supposed to be arraigned in court within twenty four hours of arrest.

She wondered why the Police would allegedly connive with the complainant to keep Mrs Elvis Mercy in their detention without granting her bail or taking her to court if they think she committed any offence.

However, Naagbo, in text message reply to inquiry by journalists described the accusation of the family of the gardener as a blackmail.

“This a tribal blackmail because the evidence is there and the lady -Mercy is the keeper of the keys to the garden and there was no sign of break-in by anyone else even as the police have confirmed.

“Unless she was on a Mission for the serial thefts that has occurred since she started working there as in the month of July, another stealing was recorded of flowers worth 560,000.000 (Five hundred & sixty thousand Naira) and equally, there was no incident of Break- in. Yet she keeps the keys of the Garden.

“All the Alumaco Windows and doors of the modern toilet facility in that garden have also been stolen. All in her tenure as a staff and key keeper. This brazenness of denials and self-defence so grievously displayed is an open pointer to conspiracy and a network, which the Police and appropriate authorities are able to handle. Any media trial will be seen as an escape mechanism of cover-up. Go to the police and confirm,” she said.

When contacted the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command SP Grace Iringe -Koko said when she got in touch with the DPO of Olu-Obasanjo Police Division, the DPO informed her that the pregnant woman was granted bail but had no reasonable surety.

SP Koko said she was also informed by the DPO that the case will be taken to court on Monday, September 4, 2023.