The Nation Newspaper

Tag: arrest

  • Arrest the situation now

    •We support the call for demilitarisation of  Nigeria

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has decried the extensive deployment of military personnel for civil conflicts in at least 28 states of the country. The speaker made the remarks at a workshop of security sector-related committees in the House, organised in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre.

    Making reference to Section 217 of the 1999 constitution, the speaker described the situation as unprecedented in peacetime. He said: “It is worrisome that Nigeria is effectively permanently in a state of emergency as the armed forces are deployed in more than 28 states of the federation in peacetime.” While the government called up the military ostensibly in accordance with constitutional provision that such could be done in aid of civil authority, the speaker said the military had usurped the functions of the police by becoming the real civil authority.

    The danger inherent in this might not have manifested now, but, if unchecked, would affect the morale of the police, render it totally ineffectual, and when it becomes obvious that the military, faced with insurgency in parts of the country lacks the capacity to deploy enough men for these extraneous tasks, the state could fail. It is unfortunate that the police hierarchy does not feel worried about this development that started under military rule.

    As soon as the military took over in  December 1983, unwilling to accommodate a strong police force that could serve as a counterpoise, funding, training and attention to the civil force dropped. The police force was subsumed under the military and, by the time power was being transmitted to the civilians in 1999, it was a battered and weakened police that was bequeathed to the Obasanjo government.

    The federal authorities must take urgent steps to redress the situation. The military men are trained to fight mainly external enemies, while the police are saddled with the task of arresting ugly situations, rein in law breakers, and bring them to justice. The rise in cases of violent dispersal of protesters and brutal attacks on citizens may not be unconnected with the anomaly introduced.

    The long term effect of the development is the more frightening because the military does not even act alone in the operations and, thus, the civil authorities are being militarised in orientation.

    If the current trend continues, there could be social implosion soon. The speaker should go beyond making such observations. As an arm of government actively involved in appropriation of resources, the legislature must ensure that the police are adequately funded and empowered to perform. Its personnel should be encouraged to be more assertive. Eighteen years after return to civil rule, Nigeria has no excuse being dependent on the military for everything. All governments since 1999 are to blame for failing in the demilitarisation of the polity. This has been obvious, too, in governance, with ex-generals being called to run the country’s affairs.

    The explosion of various crimes in the country could be linked to the mode of policing. Decentralisation of the civil force is an inescapable option in boosting crime prevention and detection. Despite the mentality that Nigeria needs discipline which the military best exemplifies, the level of rot has grown in the Fourth Republic.

    All former Inspectors- General of Police should team up with the current leadership of the police to press the need for retooling, equipping and improved funding of the police force in the interest of the general public. We should not allow soldiers to begin to have funny ideas, because that is what happens when we cannot handle internal security crises without them.

  • Recruitment: Reps threaten Immigration CG with arrest

    The House of Representatives has given the Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammed Babandede, till Wednesday to appear before it or risk being compelled to.

    The decision of the House followed the refusal of the CG to honour the invitation of its Committee on Legislative Compliance over the planned recruitment exercise of the agency.

    The House noted that its concern over the planned recruitment exercise was necessitated by the last exercise conducted by the agency, where several unemployed Nigerians lost their lives under questionable circumstances.

    According to the committee chairman, Olasupo Adeola (APC, Oyo), over the weekend, Babandede’s refusal was a slight on the institution of the National Assembly and it was capable of demeaning it before the Nigerian public.

    Adeola said the CG failed to provide reasons for his failure to appear before the committee and he also failed to send a representative.

    The Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, it was gathered, has assured the committee of expedited action on the process of securing a bench warrant should the CG refused to honour the latest invitation.

    “The nation can no longer afford to continue to waste it’s best resources just because some people refused to do their job diligently,” the Speaker was quoted as saying.

  • Court orders developer’s arrest

    An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court has ordered the police to arrest a property developer, Felix Ezeamama, and bring him to court on a charge of unlawful property demolition.

    Chief Magistrate O. O. Oshin (Mrs) issued the warrant following Ezeamama’s failure to appear in court over an allegation that he masterminded the damage of twin blocks of flats at No. 41 Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The complainant, Alhaja Halima Abubakar, alleged that Ezeamama, last Saturday at about 4am, deployed over  30 thugs to destroy the property.

    The arrest warrant of May 9, 2017 ordered the police to bring the defendant to court to answer the charge of malicious damaged filed against him.

    The complainant further alleged that the hoodlums also vowed to kll her if she did not voluntarily surrender the property.

    The warrants states “Following complaint made that you Felix Ezeamama on May 6, 2017 maliciously damaged a property situated at Number 41 Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    “The defendant (Ezeamama) was thereupon summoned to appear before the Magistrates’ Court, in the Lagos Magisterial District at 1200hrs to answer the said charge. Oath has been taken that the defendant was duly served with the summons but did not appear. You are therefore hereby commanded to bring the defendant before the Magistrates’ Court to answer the said complaint and be further dealt with according to law.”

    The complainant had alleged that the invaders, wielding cutlasses, sledge-hammers and guns, forcibly entered her rooms and seriously injured her, her 91-year-old mother and her daughter.

    She said they rummaged through her belongings and stole £7000, $5000, N5million and jewellery, adding that some of the  hoodlums came in army uniforms and threatened to kill her and “nothing will happen.”

    Abubakar said her household was awakened that morning by the sound of people trying to force her gate open with sledgehammers.

    According to her, the invaders broke down her fence, forced their way into house and its rooms and dragged her 91-year-old mother out of bed.

    She and her mother, she added, sustained bruises all over their bodies as they were dragged out and her mother also injured her left knee.

    “The thugs pushed into the apartment, dragged us from the house. One of the hoodlums grabbed and twisted my neck but only God protected me from his hands.

    “They manhandled my elderly mother before rummaging through my belongings and carted away £7000, $5000 and N5million as well as my jewellery,” Abubakar said said she reported the matter at the Ikoyi Police Station.

    She added: “I am a retired civil servant and I retired as a principal accountant after 35 years of service. The property in dispute was allocated to me by the Federal Government. The problem started when I refused to sell my two flats a property developer, Felix Ezeamama.

    “I have been living here for more than 40 years along with other retired civil servants. While others sold their houses to Ezeamama, I refused to sell mine.”

    Abubakar said ownership of the property was the subject of a litigation between her and several defendants including Ezeamama, in suit No-LD/2036/3016, before Justice Wasiu Animahun of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

    Justice Animahun, on April 26 after the Case Management Conference (CMC), ordered parties to maintain the status quo and returned the case file to the administrative judge to be re-assigned for trial.

  • I’m not under arrest, says Tuface

    I’m not under arrest, says Tuface

    Award winning musician Tuface Idibia has denied being arrested and detained by the Directorate of State Services (DSS) over his earlier planned anti-government’s protests in Lagos and Abuja.
    In his tweet yesterday, he expressed gratitude to those who have shown concern over the purported arrest.
    “Thanks for the concern, guys. I am fine and free,” he said.
    “Reports about DSS arrest are not true. We are still compiling responses for the leadership.
    “State your opinion on the social media with the #IStandWithNigeria. Peace! One luv always!!!”
    The protest, which was initiated by the hip-hop artist for yesterday, was cancelled on Sunday.
    The cancellation did not stop other groups from carrying on with the protest, but it attracted a lean turnout both at the National Stadium in Lagos and Unity Fountain, Abuja.
    The popular musician cancelled the protest on Sunday, citing “security concerns and public safety consideration’’.
    However, some groups vowed to go ahead with the protest in spite of the cancellation by its initiator.

  • Police arrest four in Ogun for murder

    The police in Ogun State have arrested four persons for alleged killing of a 52 years old woman, Sidikat Onasanya,  at Imoro village near Ogijo area of Sagamu.

    Adewale Abimbola, Monday Benson, Mukaila Azeez and Shodeinde Oluwafemi, said to be land grabbers, were arrested last Wednesday, following information provided by Wasiu Onasanya, the deceased’s son.

    Onasanya said he was in the village on Tuesday at 9pm when the suspects stormed the area and attacked him.

    According to him, as the suspects tried to abduct him, his mother tried to prevent them but was shoved and she fell down.

    The Nation gathered that the victim became unconscious and was rushed to the Mount Zion Hospital, Ikorodu but was confirmed dead by the doctor.

    Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi said upon Onasanya’s complaint,  the Divisional Police Officer,  Ogijo, Tijani Muhammed, led a team of policemen to the scene and arrested the suspects after an exchange of fire.

    Abimbola added that other members of the gang escaped while 23 expended ammunitions and two live cartridges were recovered at the scene.

    The police spokesman said the victim’s remains have been deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital(OOUTH), Sagamu, for autopsy.

  • Amaechi: security agencies’ll arrest troublemakers

    Amaechi: security agencies’ll arrest troublemakers

    Transportation Minister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said law enforcement agencies will deal with those who break the Electoral Act during the December 10 legislative rerun in Rivers State.

    Speaking during the Freedom Thanksgiving Service in honour of Ojukaye Flag Amachree at Buguma town in Asari Toru Local Government, the minister, who was represented by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Rivers Southeast, Senator Magnus Abe, said he was aware of threats by some people to deal with electoral officials and intimidate the public from performing their civic duties.

    He said law enforcement agents would arrest anybody who foments trouble.

    Amaechi cautioned law enforcement agents, who he said might allow themselves to be financially induced.

    The minister noted that such officers were enemies of the state and the constitution.

    He said: “Any policeman who refuses to carry out his constitutional duties because of anything whatsoever, whether by inducement or threat, is a traitor to the constitution of Nigeria.”

    The minister said he was aware that Governor Nyesom Wike had been encouraging his supporters to break the law and resist arrest.

    Amaechi said: “It is the job of the law enforcement agents to arrest those who do not respect the law. So, no governor can give you immunity from arrest. Let Wike send his brothers to go to the road and break the law. When the police come to arrest them, let them resist arrest. When he has done that, then we will know that he has the power to stop the police from arresting criminals when they break the law.

    “People who break the law before, during and after the elections will be arrested. People who are members of PDP and APC who break the law will be arrested.”

    Amachree thanked those who prayed for his release, particularly Amaechi.

    The APC chief said he was incarcerated for the crime he did not commit because of his support and loyalty to the party.

  • Arrest of judges

    Arrest of judges

    •Further evidence of government’s determination to sanitise society?

    The arrest of two eminent jurists, Justices of the Supreme Court – Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro – and four other judges last week by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) has caused loud acclaim and denunciation among Nigerians. Those who have spoken on the matter include eminent jurists, lawyers, civil society activists and other concerned Nigerians. It is hard to find a Nigerian indifferent to the development.

    In view of the stature of those arrested and the deep implications of the action, we are constrained to join the debate. We find quite untenable the position that arresting judges amounts to a slide to dictatorship. It is equally difficult for us to accept that the actions and inactions of President Muhammadu Buhari as military Head of State could be likened to his moves as an elected President subject to the constitution and the Rule of Law.

    First, could all the actions of security agencies be blamed on the President? Nigerians are known to have canvassed that institutions of state should act independent of political office holders. There is no evidence in the public place that the President directly ordered the arrests, nor are we informed that it signals a wave of arrests targeted at judicial officers only. The President and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), are known to have campaigned vigorously on the need to combat corruption if the country is to survive economically and as a viable entity. This the government has been doing since it was inaugurated last year.

    Military chiefs have been arrested, detained and arraigned before courts of competent jurisdiction. The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has probably spent more time in court rooms than in the chambers of the Senate since he was inaugurated. Some ministers who served under the previous administration are on the run when they realised it could soon be their turns to answer to charges of corrupt practices.

    It has also been said that the DSS had solicited the support of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mahmud Mohammed in apprehending the suspects. The CJN reportedly turned down the request. This, we are convinced, is sufficient evidence that the DSS took enough caution to accord the justices the honour due the offices they hold. It is not sufficient that the National Judicial Council (NJC) that has the constitutional duty of investigating and taking appropriate action on professional misconduct against judicial officers had performed its duty.  How well did it do this, given the way it refused to reopen a case it said it had decided in favour of a judge accused of corrupt practices when video evidence was eventually made available to it? What do we say of its handling of the case of a judge accused of collecting bribe that the NJC simply asked to refund the bribe in instalments? In view of the shoddy manner the council had handled these and other cases, it is only to be expected that the law enforcement bodies, in their attempt to rid the society of crime and ensuring that criminals are punished,  will move in to discharge their constitutional responsibility.

    The judges have to answer to the charges against them in court. It is unfortunate that judges of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in solidarity with their colleague, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, refused to sit on Monday. This is similar to the actions of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) who chose to take the side of one of their own, Rickey Tarfa, who had been accused of shielding a suspected economic saboteur, and senators who abandoned the task of making laws for good governance to appear in court with the Senate President. To them all, the charges did not matter. They did not feel diminished by the alleged action of their colleagues and call for diligent prosecution of the cases.

    We commend the DSS for being quick in releasing the accused judges on administrative bail. This is sufficient response to the suggestion that the government is being dictatorial and disdainful of the Rule of Law. We, however, hope that, given the extent to which the DSS said it had gone in investigating the matter and the cast-iron evidence it claims to have obtained before arresting the suspects, the accused will soon be charged to court.

    The most shameful conduct in the arrests was the extent to which the Rivers State Federal High Court judge, Justice Mohammed Liman, went in obtaining extra-judicial cover to frustrate the law from taking its course. He summoned the state governor, Nyesom Wike, who wasted no time in mobilising political functionaries and party rough necks to form a cauldron around the judge. Could this be evidence that the judge has something to hide?

    Arguments that the operation was carried out in the night have no place in law, nor the suggestion that only the police are empowered to conduct such investigations. Could the operation have been conducted with less drama? Perhaps yes. The state should not be seen at any time as deriving special pleasure from the discomfiture of citizens, especially since suspects are deemed innocent until they are proven guilty. There must be more civil, yet effective means of apprehending suspects.

    Given their conduct in this matter, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the CJN and the NJC failed to play their parts. The question to ask the NBA and its president who suddenly found his voice in deprecating the manner the anti-corruption war is being fought is what he and his body have contributed to the anti-graft war. At all points, senior lawyers have taken the side of the accused more than the society. They have not conducted themselves as officers of the temple of justice that they are expected to be. If anything, they appear more like beneficiaries of the old order. We wonder where the NBA was when Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State tore the dress of a judge in court.

    On his part, the CJN did not sufficiently show leadership. If truly concerned about the level of corruption in the sector, he ought to have been more forthcoming in waging the war than he has done so far. Fortunately, he is about to bow out. But, the question must be asked, what is the mindset of his likely successor? What role has he played in the saga? We call on President Buhari to ensure that whoever would be elected to hold enviable positions in any of the three arms of government is scrupulously screened by security agencies. The media, too, should play a major role in beaming the searchlight on such nominees. The NJC has served more like a social club for judicial officers than a serious clearing house.

    This is a convenient juncture to embark on a wholesale reform of the judiciary. As the last hope for aggrieved citizens and one whose actions are meant to check the resort to self-help, the Nigerian society deserves better service. It is thus not enough to punish erring judges; a framework must be provided to prevent such development in the future.

  • Police arrest 12 IPOB members in Enugu

    Police arrest 12 IPOB members in Enugu

    No fewer than twelve persons suspected to be members of Indigenous People of Biafra  (IPOB) were arrested by the police in Enugu.

    The police working on a tip-off on a planned nefarious activity by the group swooped on them and made the arrests while many others escaped.

    Suspects were nabbed inside the popular ogbete market of Enugu state as they allegedly went into the market with public address to threaten and inflict fears on the members of the public particularly the traders.

    According to Enugu State police spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu the IPOB members were announcing to the traders not to come to market from Tuesday.

    They were warning them that if anyone is seen in the market that the person will be dealt with by the group.

    “The suspects were rounded up by the operatives as the alleged threat announcement was being carried out. Recovered from suspects includes 21 handsets of different types, various leaflets in which some of them reads thus IPOB  FOR THE BETTERMENT OF YOUR CHILDREN AND THAT OF YOURSELF,PLEASE SIT AT HOME ON 23/9/16,THERE WILL BE NO WORK,NO SCHOOL,NO BUSINESS,NO MARKET,FREE NNAMDI KANU,FREE BIAFRA,ALL HAIL BIAFRA.

    “Also recovered includes flags suspected to be that of the group with their insignia, public address systems, one wireless microphone.

    Suspects are helping the operatives in their investigations and will soon be charged to court,” said Amaraizu.

    Meanwhile security is beefed up by the command as people were seen Tuesday at the market conducting their business as usual.

    Amaraizu stated: “In the light of the above, the Enugu state command of the Nigeria police Force working in partnership with relevant security Agencies and relevant stake holders in the state, has advised members of the public, particularly law abiding people of the state not to allow themselves, children and wards to be used by any person under any guise in the state to cause mischief as anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law  pointing out that the command working in partnership with relevant security Agencies in the state is ready to ensure that  law abiding members of the public are not in any way molested or precluded from going about their normal lawful businesses.”

  • Bayelsa: Police arrest 106, arraign 58 for cultism

    Bayelsa: Police arrest 106, arraign 58 for cultism

    Some parents and guardians in Bayelsa State kicked, at the weekend, following the mass arrest of 106 youths including minors by the police for cultism.

    The police further caused controversy by their decision to arraign 58 of the suspects at the state High Court on two-count of conspiracy and membership of cult groups.

    The suspects including four minors were rounded up when a police squad raided some black spots in the capital city, Yenagoa.

    The court presided over by Justice Naiyi Aganaba, was however, said to have granted bails to the accused persons and asked them to show proofs of innocence and non-membership of the cults.

    As part of conditions for their bails, the court reportedly asked them to provide N100,000 each, sureties who must be senior civil servants from grade level seven and resident in Yenagoa.

    Justice Aganaba, adjourned the case to October, 20, 2016.

    But angry parents of the arraigned suspects protested outside the court premises, accusing the police of illegal arrest of innocent people.

    A parent, who identified himself as Kelvin, said his son was arrested few metres away from their home while on errand to buy a loaf of bread.

    “When I accosted the policemen after I heard my son scream for help, the police threatened to shoot me dead. They asked me what my son was doing outside after 8pm”, he said.

    Another woman, who claimed to be wife to one of the suspects, said his husband was arrested few minutes after their newborn’s dedication at home.

    He said: “He was accompanying a guest who attended the dedication event to the bus stop when he was arrested.

    “All pleas and explanations we made to the police fell on deaf ears. How do I bail him when we just spent money on hospital bill for the new baby’s delivery and dedication?”

    Also some members of the the Hausa community in Yenagoa, who joined the protest said over 32 Hausa persons were among the suspects arrested by the police.

    They said 12 of them including four minors were among the persons brought to the court.

    “Most of them were operators of commercial tricycles known as Keke Napep”, they said.

  • Police arrest fleeing pastor for torturing son

    The police in Ogun State have arrested a 40-year-old Pastor, Francis Taiwo, who chained his nine-year-old son, Korede, to a log of wood and left him to starve for weeks.

    Taiwo, who was arrested yesterday by the police with the help of members of the Celestial Church of Christ in Ota, maltreated his son whom he accused of stealing his money.

    The boy was rescued on Friday by security operatives from a room around the church after they were tipped-off by a member of the community.

    The cleric, who hails from Benin Republic, but was born in Ota, Ogun State, into the Celestial Church, was ordained as a pastor in 2012.

    Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the pastor had two wives before he married Kehinde Taiwo – Korede’s step mother, who is also a suspect in the matter.

    “Francis, father of five, confirmed that Korede’s mother, Marine Taiwo, who hailed from Delta State, is late. And that she had four children for him – two boys and two girls – before she divorced him in 2007, just after she gave birth to Korede.

    “Investigation showed that none of Korede’s siblings stays with the pastor. And he confirmed that he chained  Korede because he felt he’s possessed and he’s not comfortable  with his stealing habit.

    “The case will be transferred to the command’s Anti-human trafficking and Child Labour Unit for investigation and actions on the welfare of Korede as directed by the Assistant Inspector General(AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, Abdulmajid Ali,” Adejobi said.