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Tag: IGP

  • New Police Commissioners for Lagos, Rivers, Ogun

    New Police Commissioners for Lagos, Rivers, Ogun

    The Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase has ordered the posting of new Commissioners of Police to Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and other formations in the Force headquarters.

    In a statement issued by the Deputy Force PRO, Abayomi Shogunle, the new posting is expected to reduce the crime rate in the affected states.

    The statement read: “It is expected that the new postings will reverse the crime wave in the affected states and also strengthen the administration in the Force headquarters formations”.

    The commissioners affected by the posting and the states they are posted to are; “CP Ajani Fatai Owoseni; Lagos State, CP Chris Ezike; Rivers State, CP Abdulmajid Ali; Ogun State.

    Other CPs posted to formations in the Force headquarters are: “Dan Bature; Intelligence FCIID Abuja, CP Valentine Ntomchukwu, CP Admin department of Logistics and Supply, Abuja, Hyelasinda Kimo Musa; CP Fed. Special Anti Robbery Squad, Abuja, CP Kayode Aderanti; CP Admin, department of Operations Abuja, CP Ibine; CP Port Authority Eastern Command; CP Ogbusua Aja Oleh, CP Provost,

  • IGP: roadblock removal ‘ll restore police mandate

    •SARS operatives to have dress code

    POLICE chief Solomon Arase has said the removal of military checkpoints will restore the mandate of internal security to the police.

    Following concerns by people after the withdrawal order, the police chief gave assurance that the spaces vacated would be safe, adding that there was no need for fear.

    The police boss added that the police management had concluded arrangements on the dress code for the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the police.

    He said: “The withdrawal of the military should not create any fear in the minds of Nigerians. We have done it before and we are going to do it again. We have about 555 vehicles on the highway nationwide. Each state has about 15 vehicles to man the safer highway. Besides that, prior to this time, most of the states had about 20 vehicles each. They are not sufficient, but what we have now should do to ensure that we are able to secure the highway space.

    “Other security agents have the constitutional responsibility to also complement the efforts of the NPF. Asking us to take over the responsibility of the roadblocks, which originally was supposed to be our turf, will not create any vacuum,” he assured.

    “Nigerians, I believe, will not want to listen to excuses from us and we have opportunity now to take over our mandate of securing the internal security space.”

    On SARS and their means of identification, the IG said: “We have discussed it extensively in management and we have agreed that there should be a dress code for all our SARS so that they would be identified with it. We are trying to get some designs which the DIG in charge of logistics is trying to bring up to management for approval. Once that is done, we will unveil it and everybody will know the dress code for the SARS operatives nationwide.”

  • Quiet birthday mass for IGP Arase

    Quiet birthday mass for IGP Arase

    IT IS often said that anyone who must succeed as a member of the Nigerian Police Force must have the heart of Hercules, the bravery of Achilles, the grace of Terpsichore, the memory of Macaulay and the hide of a rhinoceros.

    The foregoing seems to hold true for the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.

    Arase simply exudes the aforementioned qualities, making his challenging tasks in the force to look like a walk in the park.

    Arase turned 59 last Sunday and marked it with a quiet mass at the Police House Chapel where he thanked God for His blessings.

  • NANS petitions IGP, DSS, Obiano over student’s assault

    NANS petitions IGP, DSS, Obiano over student’s assault

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and the Department of State Security (DSS), over the alleged assault of a student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Chioma Ifemeludike.

    NANS officials blocked the Goodwill Junction axis of Oby Okoli Avenue, Okpuno-Awka, for over an hour in protest.

    NANS coordinator Mr. Ikechukwu Okorie led other students to shut the office of a lawyer, Mr. Albert Okwudinka. Ifemeludike was allegedly pushed from a storey building.

    Okorie said Ifemeludike suffered life threatening injuries and Okwudinka showed no remorse, even refusing to appear at the B-division police station where the matter was first reported before it was transferred to the Area Command.

    He said: “Ifemeludike, a 300-level student of Political Science had paid all dues required to be accommodated as a tenant in Big Brother Castle which was managed by Okwudinka.

    “Following the payment, she attempted to install her DSTV dish on June 15 but was stopped by the lawyer. He gave frivolous grounds that a separate payment be made before installation.

    “When Ifemeludike persisted, Okwudinka threatened that should she mount the dish, she would have to live to tell the story, if she was fortunate to be alive. After this, Ifemeludike was pushed on Okwudinka orders”.

    NANS therefore appealed to the inspector general of police, the Department of State Security (DSS), Governor Obiano, and the Nigerian Bar Association to wade into the matter.

    Reacting, Okwudinka described the allegation as “false”. He said efforts were on to resolve the matter at the police station.

    “I did not order anyone to push or beat Ifemeludike; I only ordered that the dish be removed.

    “She fell while dragging the dish with the person who removed it,” Okwudinka said.

    The lawyer said Ifemeludike stated in the tenancy form that she was a graduate and an actress.

    Ifemeludike is the national president of National Association of Nigerian Female Students (NANFS). She said the protest and petition was to ensure that justice prevailed.

    “If I, as the female president of NANS can be treated like this, then no female student is safe,” she said.

     

  • Assault of student: NANS petitions IGP, Obiano, DSS

    Assault of student: NANS petitions IGP, Obiano, DSS

    Following the alleged assault on a female student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, in Anambra state by a lawyer, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone-B, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police.

    NANS, which carried out a protest on Monday in Awka, blocked the Goodwill Junction axis of Oby Okoli Avenue, Okpuno-Awka, for over an hour.

    NANS Zone-B, Coordinator Mr. Ikechukwu Okorie led other students to also shut the office of the accused lawyer, Mr Albert Okwudinka.

    The copies of the petition to the IGP were made available to reporters Monday by the NANS coordinator Okorie.

    He alleged that the student, Miss Chioma Ifemeludike, was pushed down from a storey building on the orders of the lawyer.

    “Ifemeludike, a 300 level student of Political Science had paid all dues required to be accommodated as tenant of an apartment at Big Brother Castle, Awka being managed by the lawyer.

    According to him, “Following the payment, she attempted to install the signal dish of her DSTV cable on June 15 at a vantage position where other tenants had mounted theirs but was prevented by the lawyer.

    “The lawyer had given frivolous grounds that a separate request and payment be made before installation.

    “At the persistence of Ifemeludike, Okwudinka threatened and affirmed that should she dare mount the platform, she would have to live to tell the story if she is fortunate to be alive.

    “The lawyer after threatening her, ordered his staff and a security guard within the premises to push her down from a height of a storey-building,” the petition read.

    Reacting, the lawyer described the allegation as “false”, noting that efforts were already on to resolve the matter at the Police station with her relatives.

    Okwudinka said, “I did not order anyone to push or beat Ifemeludike but only ordered that the DSTV signal dish which she installed be removed”

    “She fell down while dragging the signal dish with the person I ordered to remove it,” he said.

    But Okorie, noted that Ifemeludike suffered serious life threatening bodily injuries which did not attract the sympathy of Okwudinka who, he alleged only showed pretentious remorse.

    The Coordinator said that the lawyer ignored the call to show up at the B-division Police station, Awka, where the matter was first reported until it was transferred to Area Command.

    NANS, therefore, appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General, Directorate of State Services (DSS), the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, the Nigerian Bar Association, among others to wade into the matter.

    Ifemeludike, the victim, is the National President of National Association of Nigerian Female Students.

    She told reporters that the protest and petition was to ensure that justice prevailed.

    “If I as the female president of NANS can be treated like this, then no female student is safe,” she added.

  • IGP set to reposition Police Mobile Force

    IGP set to reposition Police Mobile Force

    Police  chief Solomon Arase has ordered the transfer of Police Mobile Force (PMF) commanders, who have spent more than three years in their duty posts, in contravention of the statutory regulations of the force.

    Most of the affected officers, The Nation gathered yesterday, are appointees of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    The police chief, an informed source said, has also directed the immediate withdrawal of mobile policemen attached to unauthorised persons across the country by the previous administration.

    The moves, explained the source, were necessitated by the IGP’s preparedness to reposition the force for improved effectiveness in its statutory duties.

    “The IGP is keen on giving policing its ideal meaning by repositioning it for more effectual performance. He has also expressed his readiness to reposition the Police Mobile Force to give it more biting powers to actualise its duties. Every sector now is talking about change and the IGP believes firmly that the force must be an exemplar in this regard.

    “By the laid-down regulations of the force, a PMF commander should not stay more than three years at his posting. But the IGP discovered that many had been there before Jonathan came on board while he appointed many others who still outlived his administrations against the regulations. This is among the things that the IGP found unhealthy,” said the source.

    The source also explained that among other irregularities, Arase frowned at the attachment of mobile policemen to “undeserving” individuals by the erstwhile administration, saying that it was an unacceptable contravention of the law which must be terminated forthwith.

  • Commission asks IGP to prosecute ‘fake doctor’

    THE Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has asked the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to investigate and prosecute one Mr. Martins Ugwu.

    Ugwu, according to the commission, impersonated his friend, Davidson Daniel George (a medical doctor), to gain employment into the Federal Civil Service since 2006.

    A letter to the Inspector General of Police dated June 11, 2015 and signed by its chairman, Deacon Joan Ayo, indicated that the commission decided to look into a petition against the medical doctor by a group and its findings revealed that he was an impostor.

    The letter reads: “The investigation commenced when a group of petitioners alleged that a “Dr. George David Daniel” appeared to be a fake doctor. On FCSC investigation and based on a letter Ref. No. MDCN/760/Vol.II/99 of June 4, 2015, from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the FCSC discovered that the man under investigation is actually Mr. Martins Ugwu, who stole the certificate of his friend to impersonate and take up appointment as a medical doctor.”

    Ugwu, according to the letter, has been using Daniel’s certificate to work for nine years before the discovery.

    FCSC, in the letter, alleged that Ugwu, on discovery that his cover has been exposed, threatened to the friend he impersonated.

    The commission attached the letter from the MDCN conforming that Ugwu has been impersonating George, who is undertaking his Residency Training in Jos, Plateau State.

    In the letter, MDCN said it summoned and interacted with the genuine doctor, who gave some vital information which further confirmed Ugwu as an impostor.

    “Council has reported the matter to the law enforcement agency as a case of impersonation, with the genuine doctor deposing to a statement with regards to what happened between him and the fake doctor, whose real name Mr. Martins Ugwu,” said MDCN.

    Also attached to the letter is another letter from the Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, which disowned the accused as a graduate from the faculty.

  • Court declines to restrain IGP, DSS, EFCC over Nyako’s arrest

    Former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako yesterday failed in a bid to restrain the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting him.

    Nyako had, by a motion ex-parte, sought an interim injunction restraining the three from arresting or detaining him in relation to a case of alleged financial malpractices pending, for which he suspected either the IGP, DSS or EFCC might arrest and prosecute him.

    His lawyer, O. E. Ogungbeje, moving the motion, urged the court to restrain the IGP, DSS and EFCC pending the determination of an origination motion he filed for the enforcement of his rights.

    Justice Ahmed Mohhammed refused the ex-governor’s prayer on the grounds that there was no sufficient reason for the court to restrain the IGP, DSS and EFCC, listed as respondents.

    “Having read through the supporting affidavit, particularly paragraphs 5 to 19, which contain facts relating to this case, this court is unable to accede to the request for the order of interim injunction sought,” the judge said.

    He ordered Nyako to put the respondents on notice about any application for injunction filed against them.

    Justice Mohammed also ordered Nyako to serve the originating motion he filed on May 28 on the respondents within seven days from yesterday and adjourned till July 1 for hearing.

    Nyako is, by the substantive suit, seeking to among others, restrain the respondents from arresting or detaining him in relation to the allegation of financial misconduct while in office as the governor.

     

  • IGP decorates 14 new CPs

    IGP decorates 14 new CPs

    THE Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has decorated 14 Commissioners of Police that were recently promoted.

    The police boss, who decorated the officers in Abuja yesterday, urged them to embrace the paradigm shift of his administration.

    He said: “Policing is a very tasking job and we have every reason to be grateful to God for you to get to this peak of your career and you know to whom much is given, much is expected.

    “There is a new paradigm shift in policing in this country and I am sure you people will be following the policy thrust of this administration which are: Zero-tolerance to corruption, intelligence policing and restorative justice. So, we expect that wherever you are posted to eventually, you will be able to help us operationalise the thrust of this administration.

    “At your strategic level wherever you are posted to, you owe it to this country to ensure that the people under you are treated with a lot of degree of care, especially in terms of the welfare of our Inspectors and Rank and File. It is very paramount; we cannot be talking the issue of work corruption without putting side-by-side the issue of their welfare.

    The officers decorated are: Hyelasinda Kimo Musa, Adeleye Olusola Oyebade, Olusola Kamar Subair, Shaba Alkali, Basen Dapiya Gwana and David Oyebanji Folawiyo.

    Others are: “Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, Ogbusua Aja Oleh, Nkpa N. Inakwu, Anthony Ogbizi Michael, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Christ Okey Ezike, Moses Ambankina Jitoboh and Charles Ugomoh.

  • IGP to deploy anti-cultism squad in Kogi, others

    IGP to deploy anti-cultism squad in Kogi, others

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has pledged to “amputate” the activities of cultists nationwide.

    The police chief said he would deploy a special squad in Kogi, Rivers and Benue states, where the activities of cultists have been rampant.

    Arase spoke yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with top police officers on his plan to ensure a reduction in crime rate across the country.

    He said the police recorded successes in the efforts to eradicate cultism and kidnapping in Edo and Ekiti states.

    Addressing reporters on kidnapping in both states, Arase said: “In Ekiti, it is heart-warming that through community partnership, we were able to rescue the 10 victims. This morning (yesterday), we arrested two of the kingpins responsible for the kidnapping syndicate.

    “Also in Edo, we have arrested them and they are in custody. We are waiting for the court to open so that we can arraign them.”

    He added: “We will continue to make sure that none of them disturbs the peace of this country. They don’t have the capacity to take over any of the states in this country. We will continue to pursue them and sanitise the country.”

    “We are sending the message, loud and clear, that we will not allow any miscreant to turn any state in the federation to Hobbesian state. Wherever we find them, we will pursue, arrest and prosecute them.”

    On the squad to be deployed in states where cultism activities abound, Arase said: “We still have some problems in Kogi, Rivers and Benue states. Within the next 48 hours, we are deploying massively in those states to ensure that we are able to sanitise the states.”

    The police chief said there are differences between roadblocks and stop-and-search.

    He said: “We still owe it a duty to this country to occasionally stop and search vehicles. It is our preventive mechanism for dealing with internal security disorders.

    “When we get information that a crime has been committed anywhere, we can lock down the highway or the city roads and do a stop-and-search. That is not a roadblock.”