The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IGP

  • Akeredolu urges IGP to transfer Ondo police chief

    Akeredolu urges IGP to transfer Ondo police chief

    •US envoys visit candidates

    The Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to transfer the police commissioner.

    The ACN candidate accused the police chief and his team of partisanship.

    Akeredolu spoke in Akure, the state capital, when two American envoys, Jeffrey Hawkins and Rolf Olson, visited him.

    He alleged that the police chief and his men were working for the ruling Labour Party (LP).

    The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President doubted the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Prof. Attahiru Jega.

    Akeredolu noted that without a trusting and fair security partnership with INEC, it would be difficult to know the truth about the election.

    The ACN candidate hailed the American envoys for representing the agents that would ensure a free and fair poll.

    He said the dividends of democracy are not in building roads or providing basic amenities – as these are also achievable under a military government – but by allowing freedom of speech and the liberty to vote for one’s choice of leadership.

    Jeffrey Hawkins and Rolf Olson were in Ondo State to assess the political situation in the Sunshine State and familiarise with the governorship candidates.

    They visited governorship candidates and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and emphasised the need for a free and fair election on October 20.

    The envoys also listed the benefits of a violence-free poll to the growth of democracy.

    Addressing reporters in Akure, the state capital, when they visited the ACN candidate, Hawkins, who is the Consul-General, said the US was interested in ensuring that the poll result represents the people’s wish.

    Hawkins said American observers would monitor the poll.

    Olson spoke of the need for the poll to adhere with democratic guidelines.

     

  • Oke urges IGP to focus on Ondo violence

    Oke urges IGP to focus on Ondo violence

    The Ondo State governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olusola Oke, has urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to pay more attention to the spate of political violence allegedly sponsored by agents of the ruling Labour Party (LP).

    Oke spoke in Akure, the state capital, at a workshop organised by Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs.

    He decried the persistent political violence across the state ahead of the October 20 governorship election.

    The former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, who was represented by his running mate, Mr Saka Lawal, criticised the Ondo State Police Command for arresting PDP members after alleged attacks by the LP.

    Lawal said last week in Owo, some LP loyalists allegedly attacked PDP members during a campaign tour.

    He said: “Sincerely, I want the Inspector-General of Police to relocate to the state three weeks to the election, to know those behind political violence in the state.

    “Just last week, in Owo, on our campaign tour, some thugs in LP T-shirts and caps stormed our campaign ground and started shooting sporadically into the air. Before we knew what happened, the police had arrested our party leaders, saying they caused the violence.”

    Lawal expressed disappointment that the state-owned electronic media refused to air PDP campaign jingles.

    He said the stations refused to showcase their programmes for Ondo State residents though the party had fulfilled the necessary requirements.

    Lawal said: “I wonder why the Ondo State-owned stations have refused to collect our political jingles. They use our taxes to run the stations, yet we have not enjoyed the stations. This is unfair.”

    On whether or not the PDP could trust the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair election, the PDP deputy governorship candidate hailed the commission for publicly releasing the names of voters on the Election Day.

    He said: “I must surely commend INEC for its step to publicly release the number of voters in the forthcoming governorship election. The step has given us assurance that they are prepared to conduct free and fair election.”

  • $15m Ibori bribe: Keyamo writes IGP over court order

    $15m Ibori bribe: Keyamo writes IGP over court order

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, was yesterday urged to evince fearlessness in carrying out a court order instructing him to investigate the direct criminal complaint filed by activist -lawyer Festus Keyamo, against Senator Andy Uba and businessman Chibuike Achigbu over the Ibori $15 million bribe.

    The Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, presided over by Chief Magistrate Okagu, had, on Monday, September 10, made an order directing the Inspector-General of Police to conduct a thorough criminal investigation against Senator Andy Uba and Chibuike Achigbu over allegations surrounding the $15 million Ibori bribe.

    The order, The Nation learnt, was made based on a Direct Criminal Complaint filed in the court by the lawyer against Uba and Achigbu, accusing them of conspiracy, abetment and bribery in respect of the $15 million Ibori bribe

    In a letter dated September 11, and entitled: Court Order to investigate a Direct Criminal Complaint against one Andy Uba and Chibuike Achigbu over $15 million Ibori Bribe,” Keyamo told the IGP: “Please find attached an order of the Chief Magistrate court, sitting in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, directing you to investigate the complaints contained in the Direct Criminal Complaint, filed by myself, against one Andy Uba and ChibuikeAchigbu.

    “As you can see, the said order was made on the 10th of September, 2012 and you are expected to report back to the court with your findings on this matter on the 26th of September, 2012 . As a result, time is of the essence in this investigation.

    “I only need to add that in conducting your investigation, I urge you to be upright, fearless, unbiased and to do your job according to the dictates of your conscience and the oath of your office, no matter whose ox is gored in the process. The heavens will not fall.”

  • Insecurity in North will soon be over, says IGP

    Insecurity in the North will soon be over, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammad Dahiru Abubakar, has said.

    He added that normalcy is returning to Kano.

    The police boss said he was in Kano yesterday as part of the assessment tour of the country to ascertain the security situation.

    Abubakar, who noted that commercial activities are increasing, said his command would ensure peace and stability.

    He urged the police to be vigilant.

    “Peace is returning to Kano State. Security is improving and normalcy is being restored,” the IGP said.

    He added: “We are now putting in place additional measures to ensure that Kano is calm and secure. Commercial activities are increasing.”

    Abubakar thanked Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for renovating some police structures.

    The governor said his administration would collaborate with the police to ensure that peace returns to Kano.

    He decried inadequate equipment, particularly operational vehicles, adding that logistics is hampering the performance of the police.

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘We are not losing the battle’ – Inspector-General of Police

    NOTWITHSTANDING the killing of three of his men by bandits in Lagos on Sunday, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, said the police are on top of the game.

    The IGP spoke in Lagos yesterday at the Military Hospital, Yaba, where he visited five police officers, who are being treated for injuries sustained on peace-keeping mission in Darfur, Sudan.

    He said the raid by robbers was not enough to conclude his men are losing the anti-crime war.

    According to him, what happened on Sunday were parts of the hazards of the job that would not deter the police.

    The IGP said: “When policemen are chasing criminals, criminals will also be chasing them.

    So, the tendency of policemen been attacked is there.”

    “We are not losing the battle. What happened yesterday (Sunday) is one of the hazards of the job. We will remain focused.”

    Noting that violent crimes and other crimes were on the rise when he took the saddle, Abubakar said the has changed.

    He said: “We assure Nigerians to do our best in terms of protection of life and property, security management and control, law and order.

    The patrol vehicle you see on the road is the beginning. I am promising that more are on the way.

    “What we need is the support of Nigerians, the government of the day and the provision of the much-needed equipment and the rest will be done by the police.”