Bayelsa To Punish Unlawful Removal Of Community Chiefs

Bayelsa State government has read the riot act to persons and groups who engage in the unlawful and forceful removal of duly recognised community chiefs in the state.
Kemasuode Wodu, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, gave the warning in a statement he made available to newsmen in Yenagoa on Wednesday.
He said that henceforth such persons and groups would be arrested and prosecuted.
Wodu noted with concern reports of arbitrary dethronement of chiefs that are duly recognised by the state by youth groups and other persons.
He said only the state governor is empowered by the chieftaincy law of Bayelsa State to remove a duly recognized chief from office in accordance with due process.
The commissioner stressed that any attempt to unlawfully remove a duly recognised or hold out any other person in place amounts to a criminal offence under sections 28 (n) and 29 of the Chieftaincy Law Cap C4.
He also emphasised that any such purported removal or dethronement and appointment of another person in his place is not only ineffectual but also null and void under the chieftaincy laws of the state.