The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IGP

  • Osun election: IGP to hold security seminar

    In a bid to have smooth and violent-free elections in Osun State next month and the country generally next year, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has invited major stakeholders to a one-day seminar on August 30, at the state capital, Osogbo.

    The IGP’s Principal Staff Officer in Lagos, ACP Bode Ojajuni, said the theme of the seminar which will be declared open by Governor Rauf Aregbesola is: “The Imperativeness of Police Collaboration with Essential Stakeholders: Towards Secured, Free and Credible Elections in Nigeria”.

    Ojajuni said: “It is meant to kick-start numerous security enlightenment programmes lined up to sensitise and enlist the support of stakeholders towards securing 2019 General elections.”

    The Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, is expected to chair the event. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, would be the Royal Father of the Day. Other guests include the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, representatives of political parties, other security agencies, interest groups and opinion leaders.

    Foreign missions, including the United States, Britain, the African Union, the European Union and   aas local and foreign election observers are also expected to participate.

  • IGP plans security seminar on Osun poll

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has invited major stakeholders to a security seminar in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on August 30, ahead of next month’s governorship election.

    The IGP’s Principal Staff Officer in Lagos, ACP Bode Ojajuni, an assistant commissioner of Police (ACP), said the theme of the seminar, which will be declared open by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, is: ‘’The Imperativeness of Police Collaboration with Essential Stakeholders: Towards Secured, Free and Credible Elections in Nigeria.’’

    “It is meant to kick-start numerous security enlightenment programmes lined up to sensitise and enlist the support of essential stakeholders towards securing 2019 general election,” Ojajuni said.

    The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, will chair/moderate the event. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, is the royal father of the day.

    Other notable guests expected at the event include INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, officials of political parties, sister security agencies, interest groups and opinion leaders.

  • Security expert hails IGP for SARS overhaul

    A security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has hailed Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris for the administrative and operational measures announced to overhaul the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    He said the action by the IGP showed that the government was responsive to the concerns and complaints of citizens.

    Ekhomu, the president of Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), in a statement yesterday, said the new administrative measure, which centralised the SARS organisation in the office of the IGP, was a mistaken strategy, which would deepen lack of accountability of the unit.

    He said the problem with SARS was not the organisational structure, but their excessively violent behaviour, which involved brutality, torture, high-hardened extra-judicial murders and so on.

    The expert said it was a “big mistake” to relocate SARS from FCID to Operations Directorate.

    He said SARS, as a tactical/detective unit, naturally and operationally resided in the Investigations Directorate.

    Ekhomu added: “Reform must be aimed at improving process activities, service delivery, and quality of service, but reform should never be for its own sake.”

    He said the investigative strategy of the Police had been to cast SARS as the “bad cop”, which was designed to strike fear in the hearts of hardened criminals.

  • IGP collapses SARS teams, renames unit FSARS

    Nigeria Police has announced the unbundling of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) teams across the country, with its command and control centralised.

    It said the unit will now be known as the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), a name introduced in 2016 by former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase.

    A statement by spokesman Jimoh Moshood said the collapse of the SARS was in compliance with the directives of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) that SARS should be overhauled.

    He said IGP Ibrahim Idris has appointed a new Commissioner in-charge of FSARS, who will report to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Operations and no longer the Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID).

    Moshood said there would be psychological examination of FSARS operatives nationwide, adding that a human rights desk would be created at each unit that would answer to the FSARS Commissioner.

    The actions, he said, were to address complaints and allegations of human rights violations against some of the personnel of SARS.

    Moshood said: “In observance of full compliance with the presidential directives, the FSARS will be intelligence driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of robbery, kidnapping and the apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences only.

    “New FSARS commanders are being appointed across the country that will now exist and operate in the state and zonal commands under the Commissioner of Police (FSARS) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

    “A Federal SARS Commander of a rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), but not below Superintendent of Police (SP), will be in charge of FSARS in state and zonal commands across the country.

    “All commissioners of police have been directed by the Inspector-General to comply with this directive with immediate effect and warn their personnel not to pose as SARS operatives.

    “The IGP X-Squad and Monitoring units have been mandated to go round the commands and police formations nationwide to ensure compliance with the presidential directives and apprehend any erring police officer.

    “A new standard operational guidelines and procedures, and code of conduct for FSARS personnel to ensure that the operations of the FSARS are in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regards to international human rights law and constitutionally- guaranteed rights of suspects, will be enforced in totality by the Commissioner of Police, FSARS. Other measures to be implemented by the Force in observance of full compliance with the presidential directives are as follows:

    “Human rights desk officers for FSARS in every state to take complaints from the public and forward same to Force headquarters. The officer will be answerable to the Commissioner of Police, FSARS at the Force Headquarters and not Commander FSARS in the states.

    “Medical/psychological evaluation of FSARS personnel will be carried out. Redesigning of new uniform with identity name tag for all FSARS personnel throughout the country will be done immediately.

    “Henceforth, FSARS personnel will not perform stop and search duties, except on distress call to respond to armed robbery and kidnapping offences only.”

    Continuing, he said the police would be transparent, cooperate and work with the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) on the special panel that would conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of FSARS to address grievances from the public against the personnel of FSARS, in compliance with the presidential directives.

    “A committee of senior police officers, technical consultants, human rights/civil society organisations (CSOs) has been set up to review the activities of FSARS under the new arrangement.

    “They are to pay unscheduled visits to FSARS formations across the country, with particular attention to states with high complaints index, to assess facilities and situations and submit report to the Inspector-General of Police on a regular basis.

    “However, aggrieved members of the public, who have any complaint in the past or present of violation of their rights by any SARS personnel anywhere in the country, are to report for investigation and redress.”

     

  • Ex-monarch urges IGP to release his family

    The former Olugbo of Ugbo in Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State, Adebanjo Mafimisebi, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the detaining of his relations and others.

    Mafimisebi, who was deposed in 2007 by the Supreme Court, said they were arrested and detained on the order of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.

    Princes Adefemi Mafimisebi and Wemimo Mafimisebi with others were reportedly nabbed on April 6, at Ode-Ugbo, on alleged capital offences.

    An Akure High Court, presided over by Justice W. A. Akinrotoye, in its judgment on July 18, declared their arrest and detention as unlawful.

    It ordered their release from police custody.

    But the police and the incumbent Olugbo, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, filed a notice of appeal and application for stay of action of the High Court judgment.

    This, according to the former Olugbo, prompted the detention of Adefemi and Wemimo perpetually in police custody at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Akure.

    In a three-page enrolment of judgment signed by the Director (Registry), John Obasemo, the court declared that “the forcible entry into the houses of the applicants in Ode-Ugbo on April 6 and picking them up amid heavy gun power and disallowing them from wearing clothes before marching them to the house of Oba Akinruntan (3rd respondent) is barbaric, oppressive and violates the rights of the applicants to freedom of movement and right to personal liberty.

    “A declaration that the former Olugbo, Adebanjo Mafimisebi (1st respondent), deposed in 2007, is entitled to move freely within the country, and Ode-Ugbo, his place of birth as a citizen of Nigeria.

    “An order that those applicants in police custody be released immediately and unconditionally.

    “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st  and 2nd respondents (IGP and Commissioner of Police) from further arresting the applicants and N10million damages against the respondents jointly and severally.”

    However, the plaintiffs are still in detention despite the court verdict ordering their unconditional release.

    Addressing reporters, one of the solicitors to the detained applicants, Idowu Mafimisebi, enjoined President Buhari, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the Attorney-General of the Federation to order the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to comply with the judgment by releasing the applicants unconditionally in the interest of justice and rule of law.

     

  • Reps want CDS, IGP to fish out police killers

    House of Representatives has condemned the killing of four policemen in Sabongida Ora, Edo State, by gunmen.

    It urged the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, and the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to deploy a joint patrol team in Iruekpen-Sabo-Uzebba-Ifon (Ondo State) to curb killings by armed men.

    The lawmakers implored the IGP to act fast by deploying a crack team of detectives to arrest the murderers at Sabongida Ora in Owan West Local Government of Edo State.

    This followed the adoption of a matter of urgent public importance by the Deputy Chief Whip, Pally Iriase (APC, Edo), who noted that four policemen serving at Sabongida Ora were murdered by yet-to-be-identified assailants on July 14.

    He said: “The policemen were set ablaze in their operational Hilux pick up patrol van.

    “Residents of Sabongida Ora, Uzebba and their environs in Owan West Local Government now live in fear.

    “It is of great concern that if steps are not taken to nab the perpetrators of this dastardly act, there may be a breakdown of law and order in the area.”

    The motion was adopted after a voice vote.

     

  • Saraki, NASS and IGP

    IN an unprecedented move, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has initiated a legal action to quash the May 9 Senate resolution declaring him an enemy of democracy and an officer unfit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria. He predicates the action on the alleged hatred and contempt he said the Senate and Senate President Saraki harbour towards him. How he hopes to get the courts to restore his standing in the society, and particularly with the National Assembly which finds his tactics and statements deeply troubling and objectionable, remains to be seen. The IGP’s court case is aside the many bitter attempts he has made to unnerve Dr Saraki and, as the Senate alleges, to also humiliate him.

    The Senate resolution came after the IGP had twice declined the invitation of the legislature to appear before the lawmakers to shed light on both the Dino Melaye affair and widespread killings in the country for which the police appeared not to have an answer. The IGP was dead set against appearing before the legislators, ostensibly because he had prior appointments, but more substantially because he feared humiliation. He is not a man given to philosophy, nor to eloquence of any kind or appreciable degree. Having just allegedly done the bidding of the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to humiliate Senator Melaye, the IGP sensed that the enraged senators would, by hostile questions, publicly show him up as lacking coherence and depth.

    By refusing to honour the invitations, the IGP drew the ire of the Senate, which went ahead to make the angry declarations aforesaid against the police boss. In response, Mr Idris authorised the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, and the Police Force legal officer to issue what the Senate describes as provocative statements against the legislature, and particularly against Dr Saraki. And to pile on the agony, the police seized upon the ongoing investigations of some suspects involved in cult killings in Kwara State and the April 5, 2018 Offa, Kwara State, robbery incident in which 33 people lost their lives, to pin a case on Dr Saraki. The senate president has since then been embroiled in managing the allegations against his person, and seething against what he describes as a wilful and insubordinate attempt by the IGP to ridicule the legislature.

    In all this, the presidency has kept a detached and gloating silence. The Senate had troubled the presidency to no end; and since the Nigerian presidential system is in fact an imperial presidency, and because the constitution wrongly assumes the country’s weak and fearful institutions can stand up to the fearsome executive, it is not surprising that NASS has been subjected to all sorts of provocations by irreverent appointees and government supporters. Furthermore, sensing that the presidency does not appear averse to their brashness and defiance, the police have upped the ante and insisted that, as far as the Offa robbery was concerned, Dr Saraki indeed had a case to answer, a conclusion that has divided Offa people and their chiefs. The police are not struck by the paradox of asking Dr Saraki to appear before them while the IGP refuses to honour Senate invitations. In the ongoing contestation of wills, the police have in fact sensed that Nigerians seem to despise both the NASS and Dr Saraki more than they revile the police. This realisation has spurred the police on to excesses and repudiation of democratic tenets.

    No one can predict how the whole saga will end, whether it will end well for the individuals involved and for the country, or end badly. But after the tit for tat has ended, after Dr Saraki might have known his fate either within or outside the ruling party, and long after the IGP has vacated office, both officers will face the fury of life after office. In the case of the politician, if his enemies do not succeed in unhorsing him, he will continue to maintain some relevance. The same thing cannot be said of Mr Idris. Having endured ridicule over his competence and elocution in the past few months, he will find to his dismay and embarrassment that he will be shunned in polite circles and subjected to merciless lampoons in the press, particularly on social media.

  • NBA writes IGP over ‘threats’ to judiciary’s independence

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has decried what it called threats to the administration of justice and independence of the judiciary through intimidation and harassment.

    In a letter to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, the association urged him to urgently investigate the May 11 invasion of the Rivers State High Court to identify the perpetrators, no matter how highly placed, and institute appropriate criminal proceedings against them.

    NBA urged the IGP to also probe the security breach at the Court of Appeal Quarters in Calabar, Cross River State capital, and take appropriate disciplinary action against the officers involved.

    Copies of the May 16 letter, signed by the NBA President Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), were sent to Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, Court of Appeal President Zainab Bulkachuwa, Attorney-General of the Federation Abubabar Malami (SAN), Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Chief Judge of Rivers State, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, and the Chief Judge of Cross River State.

    The association urged the IGP to issue appropriate directions to police formations on access to suspects or detainees and the need to accord due respect to lawyers who visit stations to carry out their professional duties.

    “These steps will send appropriate messages not only to lawyers and judicial officers, but indeed to all law-abiding citizens and reinforce confidence in the country’s law enforcement agencies and the legal system. Nigeria cannot afford to condone or tolerate such brazen affronts on our courts and the legal profession,” NBA said.

    Mahmoud vowed to ensure that lawyers also conducted themselves well.

    “I want to assure the IGP that, on our part, the NBA will continue to educate and enlighten our members on the need to maintain proper decorum and conduct whenever our members visit police stations across the country. The association expects no less from its members,” he said.

    Mahmoud said he was compelled by recent developments to write the IGP to express “deep concern over events that threaten the rule of law and administration of justice in the country”.

    NBA said on May 11, the High Court of Rivers State in Port Harcourt was invaded and some items destroyed.

    It said reports on the incident suggested that the invasion was masterminded by politicians and executed by political thugs acting on behalf of warring factions of a registered political party.

    The invasion, NBA said, is believed to be an attempt to prevent the court from carrying out its constitutional duty.

    Besides, Mahmoud said there had been several acts of lawyers’ harassment by officers in Onitsha, Ikeja, Abuja, among others.

    “I need not remind the IGP that Nigerian lawyers form an integral part of the stakeholders in the administration of justice and must retain the ability to carry out their duties to their clients and have unhindered access to persons accused of any criminal offence or in the custody of the police anywhere in the country.

    “An independent bar is, therefore, a sacred pillar of any democratic society,” Mahmoud said.

    NBA said it received a report on May 8 from its Calabar Branch concerning a quarrel involving a police officer attached to a consulate and the private security personnel attached to the official residential quarters of Court of Appeal Justices.

    The incident reportedly escalated into assault and unlawful arrest of the private security personnel and domestic workers in the Justices’quarters on the alleged instructions of the Divisional Police Officer of the State Housing Police Station, Calabar.

    “I understand a report of this incident was lodged with the Commissioner of Police for Cross River State and Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Zone 6).

    “The protection of our courts and judges, as well as the provision of unhindered access by lawyers to persons in need of legal representation without intimidation, threats or harassment are fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

    “In addition, Nigeria is a signatory and party to several United Nations Conventions and other international instruments which impose a duty on the country to protect our courts, judicial officers, lawyers and court personnel,” NBA added.

  • IGP charges police officers to be Tactical in crime prevention

    Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, has charged officers of the Nigerian police to be tactical in the fight against crime in the country.

    The IGP also directed his officers to respect human rights and dignity in the discharge of their duties.

    IGP Idris gave the charge in Jos Saturday at the graduation ceremony of 44 Chief Superintendent of Police (CSPs) who participated in the Tactical Leadership and Command Course (TLCC)

    IGP said, “The tactical leadership and Command Course is the intermediate among the three executive courses offered by the college. The course which is for Chief superintendent of police (CSPs) draws drawn from various commands and formations across the country is designed for participants to have an overview of the Nigeria police general roles.

    “The course creates an avenue for the juxtaposition of the traditional approach to security and contemporary ways of handling same. It equally provides for thorough and comparative studies on isolated pressing and recurring security challenges with a view of improving the service tactics and successful surmounting such challenges.

    The course, being a leadership-oriented one, is meant to further impact on the participants with required skills to effectively manage their subordinates and prepare them for future leadership responsibilities.

    Having bee trained and equipped with these skills, you are expected to go back to your respective commands and formations and demonstrate your new knowledge in a more effective crime management in a professional ways to reduce crime in our society.

    Earlier in his remarks, Commandant of the College, AIG Dorothy Gimba said, “The police staff college with the support of the force management team under the leadership of IGP Ibrahim Idris has witnessed significant transformation in the areas of academic and infrastructure.

    The commandant informed the participants that to whom much is given, much is expected. She added that the participants were assigned topics of interest on contemporary issues and were expected to proffer solutions to myriads of problems bedeviling the country.

    In his valedictory remarks, course chairman, CSP Yahaya Hassan, assured the IGP and the commandant that the skills acquired in the training will be put to maximum use for the benefit of citizens of the country.

  • Why I can’t appear before Senate, by IGP

    •Senate accuses police chief of avoiding scrutiny

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has given reasons why he cannot personally appear before the Senate.

    The IGP, who faulted the Senate’s insistence on his personal appearance, said his presence at the Senate was unnecessary because the issues for which he was invited were not personal.

    He said if he was to personally honour every invitation sent to the office of the IGP, he would have no time for his main responsibilities.

    The IGP said he was allowed under the Constitution and Police Act to delegate responsibilities, including directing some of his subordinates to represent him where he is invited.

    His position is contained in a suit filed by the IGP before the Federal High Court, Abuja through his lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN).

    The IGP queried the propriety of the Senate’s decision to insist on his physical presence and its decision to enquire into issues relating to the charges filed against Senator Dino Melaye and on which he had been arraigned.

    The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/457/2018, has the President of the Senate and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as defendants.

    The Senate, in a letter dated April 25 this year, invited the IGP to appear before it in relation to the purported inhuman treatment of  Melaye and killings in the country.

    The IGP honoured the Senate’s invitation on April 26 this year, but was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) and Commissioner of Police, Kogi State.

    The Senate denied the two representatives of the IGP audience, but instead, rescheduled the meeting for May 2 and insisted that the IGP must honour its invitation in person.

    The IGP, in a supporting affidavit, stated that his choice of the DIG (Operations) and CP, Kogi State was because they were conversant with the issues for which he was invited.

    He argued the it was not compulsory that the occupant of the office of the IGP must honour every invitation in person.

    The IGP noted that the invitation letter from the Senate, with the title: “Invitation to brief the Senate on the inhuman treatment of Senator Dino Melaye over a matter that is pending in court,” showed that the Senate was aware Melaye “is facing a criminal charge in a court.”

    The plaintiff argued that he is not answerable to the defendants in respect of a case pending in court, but to the judicial arm of government, before whom the case was pending.

    He added: “The said Senator Dino Melaye is facing a charge of criminal conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms before a court of competent jurisdiction in Kogi State.

    “The heading of the said letter, which reads inter alia inhuman treatment meted to Senator Dino Melaye, who is a member of the 1st and 2nd defendants, clearly show the motive of the briefing.

    “Once a charge is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it is only the judicial arm of government that adjudicates and disposes of the matter one way or the other, and not subject to the oversight functions in Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution as claimed by the defendants.

    “Chapter Viii Rule 53(5) of the Senate’s Standing Order prohibits any reference to any matter in which any judicial decision is pending, in this case, the pending charge against Senator Dino Melaye before the court in Lokoja, Kogi State.

    “There is no how the discussion on the Dino Melaye’s case by the 1st and 2nd defendants will not relate to or impact on the matter in court,” the IGP said.

    The plaintiff therefore prayed the court to among others, restrain the defendants, any of their committees or agents from insisting that he must appear before them in person.

    The IGP also urged the court to declare as unconstitutional, the defendants’ insistence that he appears in person before them or any of their committees is contrary to the combined provisions of Section 21d(1)(a) of the Constitution and sections 2, 5, 6 and 7(1) of the Police Act.

    The defendants, in a counter affidavit, accused the IGP of using the court to shield himself from being scrutinised by  the Legislature.

    They stated that the IGP’s representatives were denied audience  because of “the weighty issues which requires clarification, as they touched on the very soul of our national existence and in order to ensure fruitful and meaningful deliberations.”

    They prayed the court to reject the plaintiff’s prayers and dismiss the suit.

    When the case was called yesterday, Izinyon informed the court that it was scheduled for the hearing of the substantive suit, and that he was ready.

    The defendants were not represented, but the court confirmed receiving a letter from the defendant’s lawyer, seeking a stand down till 12noon.

    Although Izinyon agreed to wait, the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho elected to adjourn to another date on the grounds that a stand down was not feasible.

    He adjourned to June 29 for the hearing of the substantive suit.