George Onah
22 November 2008
The King of Bonny Edward Asimini Dappa Pepple and AIG zone 6, Calabar as well as the Rivers State Commissioner of Police have been subpoenaed by the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the sudden arrest of the Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Bonny Chapter Mr. Kingsley Adonis Pepple.
Yesterday had been scheduled for the final public sitting of the commission, which was inaugurated in May but commenced sitting in June this year.
However, the planned winding up of the commission's sitting was shelved because Adonis who was under the protective arm of the commission was arrested because he dragged Bonny elders there.
Chairman of the commission Justice Kayode Eso who was visibly angry while issuing the compelling order said, "Whoever is not here among those subpoenaed next Tuesday, November 25, would wear the rigour of the law.
The rigour of the law does not recognize the crown."
Eso said the arrest of Adonis Pepple, who must also be produced on Tuesday, was a display of tyranny and despotism by the King of Bonny, who has been accused of such and so must come to the commission to deny the accusation.
The event leading to the subpoena is traceable to the memorandum, which was submitted to the Commission by the youth leader, accusing the traditional leadership of the ancient city of massive and wide spread fraud in the royalties paid by oil companies doing business in the land.
However, last Wednesday, when the matter was presented to the commission, the leader of the Bonny king's delegate Chief Reginald Hart appealed to Eso for an out-of-the- commission settlement, which was granted.
Hart and other counsels were expected to meet with all the aggrieved parties and reach a common ground after which a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed by every section and presented to the commission, yesterday.
But the commission was informed, when it resumed, yesterday, that Adonis had been arrested by the police from Zone 6 Calabar over an earlier petition to the security group, by a faction of the youth wing.
Eso was not amused by the turn of event and he said he could not be fooled by the arrogant display of power by the crown in Bonny, citing a French literature were he said a man there was informed that "the arm of the law is long.
But the man said mine is longer by six feet of blade (the sword). But he was dealt with by the law. So when you go, tell His Majesty (King of Bonny) that the arm of the law is very long, it has dealt with crowns in this country.
I have had occasions to sentence a crowned king to prison myself, go and tell him so", an angry Eso said.
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