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Tag: IGP

  • Lawyer writes CJ, IGP on land dispute

    A lawyer, Gbenga Ajala, has asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris and Lagos State Chief Judge (CJ) Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade to investigate the alleged encroachment on land belonging to his client, the Oloto family of Oto, on Lagos Mainland.

    Ajala, in a February 7 petition, said the lives of members of the family were being threatened by ‘thugs and hoodlums’ while properties on the land in Oto, were being damaged.

    The Oloto and the Adams and Alashe families are laying claim to the land in Suit No: ID/8383/2014 before Justice O. Nwaka of the Lagos High Court. But the matter has been referred to the Case Management Conference (CMC).

    Ajala said his clients filed the suit after several property disputes between the parties and upon their discovery that the government allocated part of the land to others under a purported consent judgment obtained “without the family’s knowledge.”

    The family, Ajala added, had earlier reported the matter to the Lagos State Police Command, but it was not resolved.

    It accused some officers of the Ikeja Police Command Headquarters of “thwarting the allegations” against the defendants and assisting “armed thugs and hoodlums  into the land in order to take possession of same despite the matter being in court.”

    These persons, Ajala said, had taken over  the land and had begun construction thereon. He appealed to the IGP to investigate the matter.

  • Fayose: Lawyers petition EFCC, IGP

    Fayose: Lawyers petition EFCC, IGP

    A law firm, Salawu, Akingbolu and Company, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering charges against some aides of Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

    The lawyers also petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accusing the governor of using policemen to “prevent arrest of suspects, manipulate  charges against his aides and harassment of bank workers”.

    In the petitions dated February 23, the lawyers  said they were acting on the orders of The Concerned Ekiti Indigenes and demanded investigation of the allegations.

    They urged the EFCC to investigate the alleged stealing of $150,000 by a woman  and some domestic workers  in the Government House.

    The petitioners also pointed the IG’s attention  to serial use of policemen to perpetrate illegal acts in favour of the governor, citing  the use of policemen to prevent EFCC from effecting the arrest of Femi Fani-Kayode’s wife when she attempted to withdraw money from her husband’s frozen account.

    Other illegal acts, according to the petitioners, include the governor’s use of the policemen to harass  bank workers over attempt to withdraw money from an account under a legal restriction, including use of policemen to besiege a popular hotel to prevent arrest of a suspect.

    The lawyers pointed attention to the role of the Ekiti State Police Command in the manipulation of the alleged theft charge of $50,000 in the Government House involving Fayose’s aides, Sunday Omosilade, Afolabi Sunday, Bamidele Temitope and a foreign exchange operatorr, Shuaibu Amidu.

    They noted that in the purported amended charge, Amidu, who assisted Afolabi and Temitope to change the $50,000 to naira equivalent, was omitted “for obvious reasons and the name of Omosilade, the governor’s aide was also removed.”

    They also complained that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi,  had applied to take over the case,  indicating that there was a ploy to manipulate the case and to cover-up the alleged fraud in the governor’s favour.

    They called the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and EFCC to the alleged Fayose/police conspiracy to aid criminality in Ekiti State.

    They said: “The questions that agitate the minds of the public and demand answers are as follows; how did Omosilade suddenly turn from an accused to a complainant?

    “How did he come about $50,000  which is the equivalent of N20,000,000? Why did the governor demote him and send him packing from the Government House to the office of his wife? If Omosilade is the owner of the money, why did the governor punish him?

    “What is his salary and how did he come about having $50,000 in his possession?”

  • PDP: IGP Panel Report on Rivers rerun was biased

    PDP: IGP Panel Report on Rivers rerun was biased

    Samuel Nwanosike is the Publicity Secretary of the Makafi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. In this interview with PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA, he says the Okoro -led panel does not exist. He also speaks on other issues.

    It appears that both the APC and the PDP are hitting up the polity in Rivers State. when will Rivers people have peace?
    We can have peace in Rivers State as long as the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state heeds to the Acting President Osibanjo’s advice, who is a member of their political party. During his visit to Rivers State he told them clearly that he was once in opposition for sixteen years. That they should understand that if you are an opposition you cannot parade yourself as an alternative government. APC in Rivers State must understand that there is law governing Rivers State and they must respect the law. So as long as they take the advice given to them by their leader, the Acting President of Nigeria, Peace will reign in the state. The governor of Rivers State, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has done wonderfully well in the area of project and the empowerment of the youths of this state. Even religious organizations have come to affirm that truly Governor Wike is a man of Peace. This is the reason why Christian Association of Nigeria awarded him Apostle of Peace.
    This is the only state in the Niger Delta that the Acting President accepted to sleep in, which shows that there is peace in the state. Look, the APC is desperately looking for ways to come back to Government House to continue the looting of Rivers treasury. But believe me, they will never have that opportunity of coming closer to the economy of Rivers people again.
    During the Acting President’s visit to the state, Governor Wike, the leader of your party, was uncomfortable that after a stakeholder meeting at the Government House, the APC hosted another meeting and called it stakeholders’ meeting. Which of these meetings could be described as legitimate among the two meetings?
    There were no two stakeholder meetings. The only stakeholder meeting was the one hosted in government house where Rivers people including the traditional rulers, youths and other stakeholders   gathered before the Acting President. The other meeting was not stakeholder meeting but a political party meeting. When the Acting President came to that meeting he greeted them with their slogan which shows that it is a political meeting. Then, the Vice President went ahead to tell them that he was happy to meet with his political family. Look, the concocted presentation of Niger Delta master plan  allegedly presented at the APC meeting  was  a garbage, because during the stakeholders’ meeting in government house, APC’s leaders where there.  So why are they holding another stakeholder meeting?
    Everybody, including the leaders of APC, made a presentation during a stakeholder meeting in government house. Meanwhile, the Acting President is a member of APC, so we cannot stop him from meeting with his party members. Of course, he made it clear that he was in that meeting to meet with his party members, so it is not a stakeholder meeting.
    Before the December 10 last year’s rerun elections, your party raised alarm alleging manipulation and attempt to scuttle the electoral process by the APC. After the election your party declared the process as a sham, despite winning more seats than the APC. Why?
    You know we told the whole world that even if they brought American marine, that we will resist them. They came with 28 thousand policemen, they came with special forces, they came with everything within their power. In one of the press conferences, the Minster of Transportation said they will deploy their all to ensure wining. They had the military, police, DSS and everything with them. But you know what? Rivers people were resilience and were determined to defend their rights and democracy.
    We won more seats because we resisted them. Look, the PDP will continue to win elections in Rivers State. On 12th of December,  Rotimi Amaechi in company of one Emma Chindah who was fingered as Peterside’s cousin,  being involved in fake ballot papers printing scandal and Akin Fakorede stormed the collation centre after hijacking Ikwerre result the previous night, with barrels of machine guns and armoured tanks. Over 1,000 policemen and over 800 military officers stormed Ikwerre Local Government INEC office to scuttle a peaceful election. They harassed everybody including myself.  I was manhandled, thoroughly beaten and dragged out of INEC office. The INEC returning officer and collation officer and all the party agents were beaten in the presence of Amaechi. The next day they went round Port Harcourt and attacked many people. On 12th December they came to steal the Emohua result which they failed to hijack from Ikwerre Local Government. Unfortunately for them, because of the actions of the previous day, the people of Rivers State were already laying siege at the collation centre waiting for them. This is because they got information that SARS was coming to hijack the electoral result sheets.  Dr Udege,  a senior INEC officer, was beaten up and his head  broken by men of SARS on the orders of Amaechi. Chinyere Igwe, PDP agent in Port Harcourt was abducted by SARS. But as soon as Rivers people heard what happened they came out in their numbers to defend democracy.
    Is that the reason why your leader, Governor Wike, distanced himself from the Okoro-led Police panel?
    That is not a panel. You cannot be a judge in your own matter. As far as PDP is concerned, that IGP panel does not exist, it doesn’t make sense to us and can never be recognized by us. We want them to show the evidence where money was given. Nigeria police has never been this worst before. Those persons must speak to Nigerians on how they got the money. But to be candid Governor Wike can never be distracted with this report. The people of Nigeria are facing recession, but the governor said there is no recession in Rivers State.  The governor cannot be distracted by this primary school drama. Let it be known that this report should be considered as not existing.

  • Airport diversion: IGP assures air passengers of maximum security

    Airport diversion: IGP assures air passengers of maximum security

    The Inspector General of Police,(IGP) Ibrahim Idris, has on Sunday assured air transport passengers being diverted to the Kaduna International Airport of maximum security.

    Idris gave the assurance following his inspection of security facilities in the airport.
    According to him, the force has deployed men and equipment required to perform their work including vehicles and helicopters for surveillance.

    “We mobilised men from different units of the force, counterterrorism and anti bomb squads to man security points within and outside airport.

    “We have also deployed sniffer dogs in all the nook and cranny of the airport to ensure adequate security on the issue of movement of passengers from Kaduna to Abuja.

    “We are covering all the highway from Kaduna to Abuja and other roads linking  the town.

    “We will provide security for all the vehicles to be provided by the Federal Government as charter vehicles.

    ”We will equally provide security at railway stations. The Police will give effective security throughout the period of operations.”

    The IGP said synergy with the airport authority was commendable and assured foreigners of their safety.

  • IGP seeks focus on science, technology

    Nigeria’s education system needs to focus on Science and Technology to move with the world’s digital innovations, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris has said.

    “Nigeria cannot, but vigorously pursue an educational system that places emphasis on Science and Technology,” he said.

    Idris, who made the remark at a reception organised in his honour by the Government Secondary School, Farfaru-Sokoto, Old Boys Association, noted that the world is fast changing scientifically and advancing in technology with digital innovations.

    “The world is changing, evolving into a world of Science and Technology,” said Idris, who was honoured alongside five other alumni.

    ” We cannot be an exception in driving towards global attainment in science and technology and therefore, the nation’s policy makers, especially those responsible for fashioning the educational system, should begin to pay attention to a school system that places premium on academics, as much as it does on the moral and ethical development of our youths.”

    Idris called for concerted efforts towards educating children to become disciplined and productive in their adulthood.

    “The educational system can be made a launching pad for breeding good, disciplined, God-fearing and productive citizens.

    ”They will be citizens who are averse to the life of drug abuse and addiction, with its attendant crime and criminality in the society,” Idris added.

    He also urged old students to contribute to uplift their former schools.

  • FG to roll out new anti-kidnapping measures

    FG to roll out new anti-kidnapping measures

    •Suspects to be treated, prosecuted as terrorists, says IGP

    A fresh initiative by the Federal Government to curb the growing menace of kidnapping across the country is on the way.

    The initiative is the result of joint efforts by the security agencies to check what is fast turning into one of the most lucrative criminal activities in the nation’s history.

    Government, according to an investigation by The Nation, had tasked the relevant security agencies to come up with ideas on how best to tackle the problem before it gets worse than it is now.

    The agencies have consequently identified some measures through which kidnapping and related crimes can be made unattractive throughout the nooks and crannies of the country.

    The new measures may include the introduction of the capital punishment for those found guilty of kidnapping.

    Lagos, Ogun and Delta States have already introduced the capital punishment for kidnapping.

    Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris confirmed in Abuja that the federal government is working on a blue print to address the issue.

    Besides, the Police are putting forward a plan to recreate two of its elite units at the state and zonal commands to deal with kidnapping.

    These are the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) and Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) both of which are currently based at the force headquarters, Abuja.

    The police boss said his office and that of the Attorney-General of the Federation are collaborating on effective prosecution of kidnapping cases nationwide.

    Idris who spoke  in an interview in Abuja said that for a start, suspected  kidnappers  will henceforth be prosecuted under the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention Act (TPA) 2011 and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.

    He explained that the two laws otherwise known as TPA 2011 (as amended) can be very effective deterrent against such grave criminal acts as they specify penalties that may include long jail term,  life sentence and death.

    He said: “We have seen the need for the police and the Attorney-General’s office to work together more, especially in the area of prosecution of terrorists as more has been heard about arrests than convictions.

    “After arrest, we want personnel from the two sides to ensure that suspects are effectively prosecuted.

    “Now, we want to be prosecuting them under the Terrorism Act because kidnapping falls under the Act; we are trying to harmonise everything with the Attorney-General’s office to make for very effective prosecution to the last point.

    “Thus far, people are just hearing of arrests but they have not been hearing of people being sentenced to 20, 30 years in prison or even, to death.”

    Serious criminal acts, according to him, must be confronted with serious deterrents.

    Emphasising deep concerns over the near daily occurrence of kidnapping and other criminal acts in spite of police’ consistent efforts to curb them, the Inspector-General stressed that the police has several challenges but solicited active support from all segments of the society to improve security for all.

    His words: “We are trying to enlist the support of all segments of society to tackle the challenge of kidnapping; we need to sensitise members of the public on the need to be security-conscious and for all of us to work together with unity of purpose because when you see some of the ordinary looking boys involved in kidnapping activities, you will find it difficult to believe.

    “Eventually, we always get most of them as you can see with the Turkish College, the kidnapped Lagos landlords and other cases. In those cases, we gathered information and picked suspects long afterwards when they least expected.

    “To a great extent, we are succeeding despite of challenges including inadequate funding and personnel.

    “Kidnapping has become a big problem for the entire society; that is why we are bringing together religious leaders, traditional rulers and all members of the society to tackle the menace.

    “Within the limited resources that the police have and the competencies of our officers, we are trying and we are recording success.”

    Credible police sources confirmed to The Nation that planned recreation of the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) and Anti Kidnapping Unit (AKU) at the state and zonal commands will go a long way in checking kidnapping.

    “Currently, we only have these vital units in Abuja and each time there is a serious kidnap case to crack, the Inspector General will have to order these special forces, to move to the affected areas,” sources said.

    “But if the new idea is accepted as a good initiative, we may soon see the creation of these units in the states. That way, the force will react faster to all cases of kidnap, both high and low profile, as each command will have all it takes to crack the crimes in good time.”

    The Inspector General in a previous interview had said the police would mount special tracking devices in Lagos and Port-Harcourt to check kidnapping and other crimes.

    “The device we will mount in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, will cater for the South-South and South East zones, while the one deployed to Lagos would focus on the west,” he said.

  • 127 sacked policemen cry out to IGP for reinstatement

    127 sacked policemen cry out to IGP for reinstatement

    About 127 sacked policemen have cried out to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, for their reinstatement.

    The police men from Zone 11 Command of the Nigeria Police Force, comprising Oyo, Osun and Ondo States were disengaged in 2007.

    They also demanded full remuneration of their allowances as well as the payment of their gratuities.

    At a press conference in Osogbo, the Osun State Capital, the spokesperson for the group, Mr Ibrahim Shaibu, described their disengagement as unlawful.

    According to him, the claim of over-age given for their disengagement by the police was not correct, adding that they were within the lawful age of service when they were retrenched.

    He said: “We were not over-aged as at the time we were retired. They gave us certificates of retirement which confirmed the action.”

    Shaibu, who claimed that several complaints to the Force Headquarters, Abuja have been unsuccessful, disclosed that 16 out of the 144 officers from Osun have been recalled without recourse to them.

    PoliceOne of the letters addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11, and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, by Cpl Bolorunduro Oni, dated 4/10/2015, a copy obtained by our correspondent in Osogbo, the officer appealed to the relevant authorities to urgently heed their agitation.

    Other members of the group told newsmen that they have been confirmed dead by the current Inspector General of Police when he was invited by federal lawmakers.

    “On January 19, 2017, at the House of Representatives, Abuja the Inspector General told the lawmakers that we were dead but when we made efforts to reach him on the matter he said that was what he met from his predecessors,” one of them explained. 

    The retirees stated further that some of them had c9mmited suicide by hanging himself when he could not endure hunger.

    Mr Shaibu also said since their disengagement letters were issued, they have not been paid their gratuities as their pension fund administrators are yet to be notified.

    He said: “We want our gratuities paid, we want to be back in service. We do not want to turn street beggars, we want to take care of our children. IG please, help us.”

  • Policeman sues IGP, others for unpaid wages

    Policeman sues IGP, others for unpaid wages

    A retired policeman, Uduak Sunday Akpan, has sued the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris and two others, for allegedly withholding his salaries and other entitlements.
    The suit filed by his lawyer, John Ainetor, before the National Industrial Court (NIC), Abuja, has as defendants, the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
    Uduak, who retired as a Superintendent of Police (SP) in 2015, said he was owed salaries and allowances for 13 months when he was suspended.
    The claimant said he joined the NPF on January 7, 1980, but was suspended on July 2, 1997, and his salaries and emoluments were withheld until his reinstatement in 2010.
    He is, therefore, praying the court to, among others, order the defendants to pay him N5,505,318.00, being the total amount of his unpaid salaries, allowances and emoluments from July 2, 1997 to December 31, 2009.
    Uduak also seeks an order directing the defendants to pay him N10 million, being damages for the delay and refusal of the defendants to pay him.
    He also wants the court to order the defendants to pay him 21 per cent interest on the judgment sum, from the date of the judgment till full payment.
    The defendants were yet to file their responses when the case was mentioned yesterday and Justice Edith Agbakoba adjourned till March 22.

  • Lack of funds hampering police fight against violent crimes, says IGP

    Lack of funds hampering police fight against violent crimes, says IGP

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has lamented that poor budget allocation was hampering the fight against violent crimes in the country.
    The Inspector General made the disclosure in Abuja when the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs led by its Chairman, Haliru DaudaJika visited the Force headquarters for oversight function.
    Lamenting the poor allocation, he said: “the Capital budget is a far cry from the actual requirement to address security challenges especially violent crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and to ensure the maintenance of law and order.”
    He noted that “the annual budgetary allocation to the Force especially with regards to capital projects and overhead cost, do not reflect the enormous size, scope of responsibility and basic infrastructural requirements of the Force.”
    Highlighting the budget performance for 2016, the IG said: “arising from the limitations of funding occasioned by the budgetary constraints, most of the requirements that would enable the Force perform are never met.
    “For instance, against a capital budget estimate of N331bn proposed for the 2016 fiscal year, the Force was given an envelope of N16.1bn, while in respect of overhead cost, N9.25 was appropriated as against proposal of N90.6bn.
    “Allocations to the Force are grossly inadequate despite the increasing security challenges it has to contend with. It will be observed that in 2016, only 25% of the appropriated fund was actually released leaving a whooping sum of N21,080,454,000 not released as at 31stDecember 2016. 
    Continuing, Idris said: “The amount released and cash-backed in September, 2016 is being utilized for the payment of completed and ongoing projects. Out of N16,107,272,000 appropriated for Capital projects, only the sum of N4,026,818,000 (25%) was released and cash-backed by the end of the year 2016.
    “The non-release of appropriated capital budget has inhibited the Force from accomplishing its set objective of providing necessary tools and infrastructure for the enhancement of its operational capacity and capability”.
    He further lamented that the meager funds released has made budget planning and execution difficult.
    To however ensure internal security, the Force leadership said the Force needs to procure aircrafts, vehicles, arms and ammunition and other tools.
    According to him: “In order to carry out our statutory responsibilities, requisite operational tools and infrastructure are indispensable. Such tools include vehicles, arms and ammunition, aircraft, intelligence and surveillance equipment, bomb disposal and a host of others. 
    Earlier, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris applauded the Nigeria Police for keying-in to the IPPIS and other Public Finance Reforms initiatives being implemented by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
    The AGF was particularly pleased that the Police has now been fully integrated  into the TSA  and is currently being enrolled on the IPPIS platform, which according to him will help to effectively manage the wage burden of the government.
    Meanwhile, the IG has also inaugurated a committee responsible for the construction of General and Referral hospital for the Nigeria Police Force.
    The Committee which will be headed by AIG Kaumi Ahmadu  is expected to interface with partners that will deliver on the project.

     

  • IGP commended over safety on roads

    IGP commended over safety on roads

    Inspector General of Police  Ibrahim Idris has been commended over the performances of the police in ensuring that motorists maintained proper law and order on Nigerian roads during the last yuletide, as there was much sanity on our roads during the celebration.

    In a statement issued after its National Executive Council meeting held in Lagos, signed by its Director General, Dr. Martins John Oni, the police Assistance Committee (PAC), observed that men of the police force worked diligently in the spirit of the new order on zero-tolerance for corruption introduced by the IGP to prevent criminal activities on our roads during the festival period, while also ensuring proper traffic control in conjunction with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    The PAC said the reports compiled by its zonal coordinators nationwide during the period gave a good account of how police officers and men on the roads comported themselves with decorum, while discharging their duties of maintaining law and order as they teamed up with FRSC officials to control the traffic and check the excesses of motorists plying the roads.

    The PAC also announced its readiness to resume in earnest its nationwide seminar/workshop on security enhancement programmes on information dissemination and intelligence gathering where they train and enlighten their members, comprising chief security officers (CSOs) of public and private establishments, chairmen, secretaries and PROs of traders’ associations and artisans and other stakeholders to keep assisting the police and other security agencies in the area of crime combating and control.

    Dr. Oni reassured the IGP of the organization’s continuous support and assistance to the police force, while also urging the police to keep giving access to PAC officials to pass timely information to them.