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Tag: Francis Odesanya

  • Rivers gets new Police Commissioner

    Rivers gets new Police Commissioner

    A new commissioner of Police (CP) has been deployed to Rivers state.

    This followed the death of the former commissioner, Francis Odesanya.

    The new CP, is Zaki Ahmed, he resumed work as the 38th CP of the command Monday.

    Ahmed, who hails from Kogi State, last served in Bauchi State before his redeployment to State to continue his service.

    Upon resumption at the Command’s headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt,  he has met with high ranking officers of the command for brief meeting and familiarization.

    Speaking briefly after inspection at the Quarter Guard, Ahmed thanked the press for their cooperation with the police, noting that he would officially address the media later.

    He stated that he would work with the media to ensure transparency and urged them to give him the need assistance.

    However, outcome of the meeting could not be ascertained at the time of filing the report.

    Meanwhile, after the demise of Odesanya, in January,  2017, DCP Ahmed Magaji,  oversaw the affairs of the Command as the Acting Commissioner of Police.

  • Remains of late Rivers CP arrives Lagos

    The remains of the late Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr Francis Odesanya, on Saturday arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Odesanya died on Jan. 31 in India where he had gone for medicare.

    The remains of the late police chief arrived aboard an Emirates Airline aircraft at about 4.30pm.

    It was received by the the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, the Lagos Airport Police Commissioner, Mrs Victory Menta, and the consignee,  Dr Adegboyega Oke.

    Spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, confirmed to NAN that the remains of the deceased was later deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) , Ikeja.

    The late Odesanya joined the Nigeria Police Force on Feb.2, 1986 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent

    He assumed office as the 37th Police Commissioner in the state on July 28, 2016, taking over from DIG Folunso Adebanjo.(NAN)

  • Rivers Police commissioner dies at 56

    Rivers Police commissioner dies at 56

    The Nigeria Police was on Tuesday thrown into mourning following the death of Rivers State Commissioner (CP), Francis Odesanya.
    Odesanya, 56, passed on at India’s Sterling Hospital, Ahmedabad-Gujarat after a brief illness.
    The news of his death shocked both officers and other ranks because not many knew he was ill.
    Confirming his death, the Force Headquarters spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) said the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris commiserates with the officer’s family.
    He said: “With a heavy heart and deep sense of loss, IGP Ibrahim Idris, regrets to announce the demise of a serving Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, who passed on at the age of 56 years after a brief illness at Sterling Hospital, Ahmedabad-Gujarat, India.Police Francis Odesanya
    “The late Commissioner of Police enlisted into the Force on February 1, 1986, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and rose through the rank. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Operations, as well as Finance and Administration before he was promoted and posted as Commissioner of Police Rivers State on July 20, 2016, a position he held until his sudden demise on January 31.
    “The IGP and his management team, on behalf of the entire officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force wish to commiserate with the Odesanya family of Ikenne, Ogun State, the government and people of Ogun State on the demise of their illustrious son, CP. Francis Mobolaji Odesanya.
    “May his soul rest in perfect peace and may the good Lord grant his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
    “A condolence register has been opened at the reception of the Force Headquarters, Abuja and Rivers State Police Command headquarters, Port Harcourt for the personnel of the Force and members of the public. Burial arrangements will be announced after consultation with the family.”
  • Wike, Police commissioner trade words over alleged rigging plot

    Wike, Police commissioner trade words over alleged rigging plot

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Commissioner of Police Francis Odesanya have traded words over an alleged plot to rig the December 10 legislative rerun.

    Wike said he would release audio -visual footages of the Rivers State Police Commissioner plotting with politicians  on the  methods to be adopted for the planned rigging of the December 10 rerun elections.

    But Odesanya told The Nation that Wike was only playing politics with his claim.

    Wike spoke while‎ flagging off the rehabilitation of the General Hospital, Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area on Monday.

    The governor noted that the audio-visual footages will be made public through different media platforms  to expose the extreme rigging desires of the Independent National Electoral Commission  ( INEC) with the backing of the police and other security agencies .

    He noted that   the 600 policemen  working with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad  (SARS ) in the state , the police commissioner  has already distributed them to prominent APC  leaders  on a local government  basis for the indiscriminate arrests of PDP  supporters  few days to the election .

    The governor  added that the 600 SARS  personnel distributed would also be used to unleash unprecedented  violence on the people on election day , “so that APC  leaders  would have  time to substitute  results sheets handed over  to  them by the INEC leadership”.

    He said: “We are now in possession of the DVD of how the Police Commissioner and some politicians were planning on how to rig the forthcoming Legislative re-run elections in Rivers State.  At the appropriate time, we shall release the materials for Nigerians to understand the depth of the Electoral fraud being perpetrated by  INEC and Police.

    “For the security of this all important audio-visual material, we have mass produced them and kept them at different locations.  Nigerians are entitled to know the truth about the unfortunate rigging machine.”

    The governor explained further that,  “Now that we have  caught them on tape, this will shake the world. Rivers State is not like other states where you can plot and execute easy rigging plans.

    “We are ahead of them by 50 steps. If they take one step, we take 50. On behalf of  our people , we shall  continue  to  monitor these persons who are trying to steal the  mandate  of our people”.

    Odesanya said he was waiting for Wike to release the footages.‎

    He said: “It is all politics, let him make his evidence public; last time he said I withdrew his security personnel which is not true, I am waiting when the video would be release, them, I will respond.”