The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Biodun Olujimi

  • Anambra election: Senate gives IGP 24-hrs to restore Obiano’s aides

    Anambra election: Senate gives IGP 24-hrs to restore Obiano’s aides

    The Senate on Wednesday directed the Inspector General of Police ( IGP ), Mr Ibrahim Idris to restore security aides of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra within 24 hours.

    The directive was sequel to a Point of Order raised by Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha during plenary in Abuja.

    The Upper Chamber also directed the Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Sen. Abu Ibrahim to ensure that the order was carried out and report back to the Senate on Thursday, Nov. 16.

    It can be recalled that the IGP had on Tuesday withdrawn Obiano’s security aides on the excuse of providing level playing ground in Saturday’s governorship polls in the state.

    Bwacha described the withdrawal of the governor’s aides as unjust.

    “As a senator, I know that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. If we don’t arrest the matter the President may be made hostage unknown to him.

    “If we allow such cabal to grow and are not tamed, the Federal Government may be brought down to its knees.”

    He said as members of parliament they had a duty to ensure that “What happened in Anambra did not happen anywhere again.

    “Candidates should be allowed level playing ground but nobody should do a thing as crude and shrewd as what happened in Anambra. This was wrong.

    “I will make attempt to try and reach the President that some of his aides are been over zealous in discharging their constitutional duties; this is not good and it is uncalled for.”

    In his comment, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, described the development as unfortunate, but said the Senate would not debate on the matter as it was brought under an order not debatable.

    Rising under Order 45 and 52, Deputy Minority Whip, Sen. Biodun Olujimi said the whole idea of the Point of Order she raised was for the lawmakers to be allowed to make contributions on the matter.

    “The issue is very important to Nigerians and democracy. It is a nascent democracy and there is a need for us to nurture it, to ensure that we don’t truncate it easily.

    “The action of the IGP in taking over the aides of a sitting governor means that in 2019, even the Senate President will lose all his aides,’’ Olujimi said.

    She added: “every governor regardless of his political party is entitled to security and as chief security officers of their states they are entitled to security.

    “It is unimaginable that the IGP will say because he wants to provide level playing field because there is an election, he will withdraw the ADC of a governor so that he goes without his retinue of aides. That is wrong”.

    NAN

  • Senate tasks IGP on upsurge in rape cases, sexual violence

    Senate tasks IGP on upsurge in rape cases, sexual violence

    Obviously worried by the upsurge in cases of rape and other sexual perversions in the land, the Senate has charged the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to speed up investigation and prosecution of such cases.

    The lawmakers urged the police authorities to ensure diligent prosecution of all cases of sexual abuse, violation and violence in line with the provisions of extant laws.

    The Senate also mandated it’s Committees on Health, Women Affairs and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to engage relevant stakeholders with a view to resolving pending cases of sexual violation across the country.

    In view of the trauma experienced by the victims, the senators further urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and paramilitary agencies to establish functional help desk to provide assistance and support to victims.

    The legislators also urged the courts to revisit the penalties prescribed for such offences, including domestic violence, with the view to giving offenders the appropriate and deserving punishment.

    The resolution followed a motion by the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah on the urgent need to address the alarming rate of rape and assault cases against women, children and other vulnerable persons in the country.

    Na’Allah bemoaned the frightening increase in cases of sexual violence in the country, particularly rape, regretting that many of the victims were usually children below the age of consent.

    He also noted that perpetrators of sexual crimes were mostly familiar neighbours, employers of labour and close family members known to the victims.

    The senator further pointed out that sex offenders constituted serious security threat to the larger segment of the society, saying that most of the cases are not getting media attention.

    He expressed concerned that the menace has continued to spread to every part of the country, recording male and female victims.

    According to him, poor prosecution and light convictions by the concerned authorities have worsened the situation, thereby portraying the country in very bad light.

    Senators Ali Wakili, Eyinnaya Abaribe, Ben Bruce and Biodun Olujimi who also contributed to the debate deplored the rise in sex related cases and called for stiffer penalties for offenders.