The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State Police Commissioner

  • Mobile courts, task force our headache, says Prisons controller

    Lagos State Controller of Prisons, Mr. Tunde Ladipo has said that the operations of mobile courts and Lagos State Environmental Task Force are creating challenges for the prison system in the state.

    He said their activities are largely responsible for congestions in the prisons.

    Speaking at the stakeholders’ forum held at Ikoyi Prison Monday, Mr. Ladipo noted that many detainees, including juveniles and cripples, are remanded in prison for petty offences such as breach of the peace, affray among others.

    He noted that some of the offences for which most of the juveniles are charged, like “lack of visible means of livelihood” are not even in the statute books.

    According to Ladipo, though it has been suggested that the courts deploy community service in managing petty offences especially, this has not been fully implemented, leading to congestion of prisons.

    Read Also:Mobile courts try over 5,000 offenders in nine months

    “The implication is that we are unable to discharge one of our primary duties, namely reform of convicted prisoners because facilities are overstretched by awaiting trial inmates”, he lamented.

    He commended the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) for its prison reform interventions, describing its Executive Director, Dr. Uju Agomoh as “a senior advocate of the masses and the only prison officer who, as acknowledged by the Controller General of Prisons, does not wear uniform.”

    The Prison Reform Project is a prison decongestion programme spearheaded by PRAWA in partnership with the Nigeria Prison Service and Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON).

    Stakeholders from LACON, State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti (Legal Department), pro bono lawyers and para-legals as well as heads of all the prison formations in Lagos attended the forum.

    Ladipo urged PRAWA to extend its prison decongestion programme to other prisons in Lagos, including Kirikiri Medium and Maximum Security Prisons, noting that the prison population at Ikoyi Prison would have been unbearable save for the intervention of PRAWA and other stakeholders.

    Responding to complaints by some participants,  Ladipo warned prison officers against corrupt activities, noting that disciplinary measures had been taken against defaulting officers.

    He commended the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Edgal Imohimi   for improving transfer of case files by police to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office for legal advice, adding, “the DPP has been very supportive.”

    Civil rights lawyer and a pro bono participant in the Prison Reform Project (PRP), Mr. Emeka Nwadioke decried the handling of petty offenders such as street hawkers and destitutes by the task force, adding ,  “we must find better ways of managing this group of people than clamping them in prison. Criminalization of poverty is unacceptable.”

    On her part, Dr. Agomoh emphasized the need to ensure that proof of service is henceforth provided for production warrants to avoid delays in criminal trials, adding that the prison service should devise a register for such warrants to enable tracking while courts should demand to cite such proofs.

    She also recommended that the police should attach charge sheets to production warrants to avoid cases of detainees being held endlessly in prisons due to missing charge sheets, noting that the judiciary should also direct court registrars to transmit the charge sheets to the prisons, prosecution and defence counsel.

    In tackling the incidence of juvenile suspects in prisons, Agomoh suggested better synergy between the key agencies, adding that aside from prosecuting agencies alerting the juvenile institutions on impending court cases, such institutions should also have their officers in court to take juvenile suspects into custody.

    Information on all the prison facilities in Lagos state revealed that they are all congested.

    Of the 2,919 inmates in Ikoyi Prison, only 533 inmates are convicts while 2, 386 others are awaiting trial inmates. Also, of the 1, 627 inmates at Kirikiri Maximum Prison, over 1, 000 are awaiting trial inmates while the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison with a lock-up capacity of 1, 700 is holding 3, 602 inmates.

     

  • Lagos Police vows to stop Tuface’s planned protest

    Lagos Police vows to stop Tuface’s planned protest

    • Says criminals plan to hijack protest in Lagos
    The Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni on Wednesday said he will not allow the planned protest against the Federal Government slated for February 5 to hold in the state.
    Popular musician, TuFace Idibia who joined the call for protest by some concerned Nigerians over the state of the nation, had used his social media platforms to appeal to his supporters to join the movement.
    But Owoseni, who had earlier stated that there was no official request from the protesters notifying security agencies of their plan, said Wednesday that intelligence report indicates that criminals might hijack the process.
    According to the police chief, the command wasn’t ready for that kind of demonstration and as such would not allow it to hold.Tuface-Idibia
    He said no matter how good an intention is, hoodlums would always find a way to harass, rob and attack innocent members of the public, who may wish to go about their Lawful duty.
    Owoseni said: “Information reaching us revealed that some hoodlums are planning to hijack the peaceful protest. And as such, we won’t allow it to hold in Lagos. We know that Tuface do not have the capacity to contain such a crowd and we will not fold our hands and watch while things go out of hand.”
    At a press conference held earlier in the week, Owoseni said: “The Civil Society had said that they do not need police permission to carry out any peaceful protest, but they should also be aware that there might be those who share an opposing view. This set of persons may want to disrupt the peaceful demonstration and would want to attack demonstrators.
    “This is why we advise individuals or group of persons who may wish to embark on civil demonstration to inform the police so that adequate security arrangement would be provided.”
  • Police kill three armed robbers, nab 779 suspects

    Police kill three armed robbers, nab 779 suspects

    Three suspected armed robbers were killed during gun duels, and 779 suspects arrested across Lagos in the last three weeks.

    This disclosure was made by the state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni on Wednesday during an interaction with journalists at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja.

    He also stated that the police recovered 27 guns, 64 rounds of various ammunitions and 33 different brands of vehicles within the period.

    Among those arrested were 23 suspected armed robbers, two ‘cultists’ and 754 persons apprehended during raids of criminal hideouts in the state.

    The police boss stated that 260 persons were released unconditionally from the 754 raided after they were found to have legitimate source of livelihood.

    “494 of them were charged to court and we secured conviction on 298. The courts discharged 151 persons and 45 are still awaiting trial. In an effort to enforce the state Traffic Law 255 motorcycles were impounded for plying restricted routes,” he said.

    Owoseni who said the most prevalent crimes in the state since March 18 were cult and gangster related clashes, as well as stealing by domestic employees from their masters, noted that the command has been able to recover about 95 percent of cars stolen from the owners by their drivers.

    “Among the suspects arrested within this period were a group which specialises in dispossessing commercial motorcyclists of their bike. Their modus operandi is that they pretend to be passengers wanting to patronise motorcyclists.

    “Then, after they are carried, they use a certain spray on the rider which makes him unconscious after which they dispossess of his bike.

    “When they are done, they meet one Justin, who generates fake receipt and fake plate number for them and they start operating the motorcycles.

    “Five of them, including Justin were arrested and three of the snatched motorcycles were identified by their owners. Police discovered 50 other motorcycles in Justin’s house, as well as fake number plates and receipts. 

    “Also, 13 suspected ‘one-chance’ operators  who are still being interrogated were arrested at different areas in the state. We apprehended about five of them who operate at Shoprite Ikeja, arrested some in Surulere and recovered two buses. Two other persons were arrested who received the stolen items from the one-chance operators.
    “Six suspected cultists were arrested in Lagos Island and they have been charged to court. There was serious confrontation between Salu Court boys and Okesuna boys on March 23, leading to their arrest. But on Tuesday, three more suspects General, Ejah and Taribu were arrested and are currently in police custody, helping detectives to get others.

    “Five suspected armed robbers who attacked a hotel in Ajangbadi and dispossessed lodgers of their valuables were arrested on April 12. We also got some of the boys who ambush bank customers and trail them with their power bikes to rob them of their money,” said Owoseni. 

  • Abducted school girls: Kidnappers demand N200million ransom

    Abducted school girls: Kidnappers demand N200million ransom

    The kidnappers of three girls from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS) have demanded N200 million as ransom.

    Timilehin Olisa, Tofunmi Popoolaniyan and Deborah Akinayo, all SS2 students were whisked away at about 9:30pm on Monday from their classroom while they were having prep.

    Timilehin, it was learnt is the daughter of the State’s Anglican School Management Board.

    It was learnt that the kidnappers contacted the father of one of the girls on Tuesday, demanding N200 million in exchange of the three students.

    They were said to have gotten the number of the man they contacted from his daughter, and allegedly made it known that their target was the school.

    It was learnt that the criminals’ first call to the man was ended abruptly and they called him again to pass their massage.

    This development was said to have provoked an emergency meeting between the school’s management, victims’ parents and security agencies led by the Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, which lasted till the early hours of Wednesday.

    Three other meetings were held between 11am and 4:15pm with the school authorities, the combat squads and heads of intelligence agencies.

    However, it could not be ascertained if the school would negotiate with the kidnappers, although they were expecting their call at the time of filing this report.

    Meanwhile The Nation learnt that security agencies have been completely surrounded the school.

    It was gathered that the suspects’ location have been identified and several crack teams of military personnel, police and DSS and the local vigilante group known as ‘Oyabo’ have been deployed into their hideout.

    The Nation also learnt that the criminals were still within Lagos and shocked to a corner.

    It was learnt that the parents and teachers have intensified prayers for the release of the girls, just as academic activities did not start until past 10am.

    As at 4pm, normalcy has however returned to the premises, save for the heavy presence of security men around the administrative block and outside the school gate.
    Some parents who spoke on condition of anonymity blamed the management of the school for lack of adequate security.

    They said on various occasions, the school management was advised to raise the school fence at the School of Science and Technology, but their suggestion was ignored.

    But the school principal, Venerable Olaoluwa Adeyemi who looked very disturbed vented his anger on reporters whom he accused of sabotaging rescue efforts.

    CP Owoseni also put forward the same line of argument, telling journalists who were within the premises to go as information will be communicated to them in due time.

    Adeyemi exploded after several pressures from reporters on him to comment on the issue.

    He said: “The girls have not been found till this moment and why do you want me to start addressing the press? Is that the only job we are going to do all day? People are busy searching for the girls while you are busy asking questions.

    “You cannot keep disturbing us here all you need do is to join us in prayers. Honestly, you people are not helping matters. Infact, you’re adding to the problem by disturbing what people could have done at the right time.

    “The Deputy governor was here and we recounted the whole issue in her presence and the press men asked various questions. Both the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police has addressed the press but for everybody to be coming here as if this place is a pilgrimage area is not good enough.

    “Let us respect people and the situation, let us look for solution but everybody just want something they will go out there and broadcast the wrong thing even Channels Television did not report the right thing.”

  • Police seek inclusion in lawmaking process

    Police seek inclusion in lawmaking process

    For the Criminal justice system to be effective, there is need for the Nigeria Police to be included in the process of law making.

    This was the view of the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni who hosted members of the state Law Reform Commission (LAWRECOM) on Thursday.

    Owoseni noted that the setbacks evident in the justice sector were majorly as a result of the lack of consultation of prosecuting agencies by lawmakers.

    While noting that the police does not have control over the lawmakers, Owoseni said some of the laws the legislature usually create turn out to be bottlenecks for the police.

    He condemned the proliferation of government owned agencies by legislative Acts, noting that the police still receive the bashing for their failures.

    According to him, the police receive most of the condemnation from the public, even when the agency was not to be blamed.

    The criminal justice system has always passed the bug with one agency blaming the other.

    “If a judge does not sit, it is the police. If the prison authority fails to bring an awaiting trial inmate to court, it is still the police that is blamed. If there is jail break, the police is blamed.

    “The problem is that lawmakers do not come for police imput before making laws. We only enforce. Most times, these lawmakers create just to suit their whims and caprice and failure of each is blamed on the police. This is the kind of burden the police carry,” said Owoseni.

    While commending the members of the commission who were led by its chairman, Gbolahan Elias, Owoseni said their visit would cement the relationship between both parties.

    “Visits like this cement our relationship. It will help us see the areas where there have been gaps and to also see the areas we need capacity building for our police officers. Since we enforce the law, it will enable us to give them input,” he said.

    According to the Commissioner, most of the grey areas in the Administration of Criminal Justice have been corrected particularly in Lagos State, just as he stated that the holden charge provision in the law was commendable.

    “Most of the areas where we used to have challenges in prosecuting such as holden charge have been taken care of in the new law.

    “Now, we are allowed to take our suspects to court for remand and we have a window of opportunity within which we are enabled to complete investigation.

    “That is why institutions like this and interaction of this nature is of great help.

    “The new law has put us on our toes. It is in line with the policing philosophy of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase, which is intelligence led.

    “Police men do not have to arrest suspects and arraign them before looking for evidence for trial. We are interested in knowledge based policing, so, we won’t have a situation where u charge a suspect to court and start scouting for evidence to prosecute. We are supposed to prosecute and not persecute,” he said.

    Earlier, Gbolahan explained the need to partner with the police, noting that their imputs as the enforcement agency was necessary in the planned review of the state’s Criminal Justice Law.