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Tag: Moshood Jimoh

  • Lagos Command has effective, topnotch forensic investigators, equipment, says CP

    Lagos Command has effective, topnotch forensic investigators, equipment, says CP

    • IG’s order on indiscriminate transfer of cases laudable

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Olohundare Moshood Jimoh at the weekend said the command has the expertise and equipment for forensic investigation.

    He gave the assurances during an interactive session with crime reporters in Ikeja, stressing that the police forensic experts were among the best anywhere in the world.

    Referring to an incident while was a Deputy CP at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Command in Ikeja, Jimoh recalled how the expertise of investigators from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, who worked with his team at the Airport Command helped in resolving a rather complex case.

    Read Also: Rivers: Tinubu will not keep emergency rule longer than necessary, says Minister

    According to him, almost all the international organisations in the country were conversant with this fact and usually preferred to work with Nigeria Police investigators in their team because they bring to bear certain levels of ingenuity- technical and technological- intelligence needed to resolve crime puzzles.

    “You see, our police investigators are the best. While their counterparts in most parts of the world rely heavily on technology and cannot function if there is a glitch in such gadgets, our investigators have the raw intelligence and apply them where and when necessary.”

  • Lagos CP talks tough, serves criminals quit notice

    Lagos CP talks tough, serves criminals quit notice

    • • New crime prevention strategies underway
    • • 50 ‘cultists’ arrested 

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police Olohundare Moshood Jimoh has warned criminals to change their ways or leave the state.

    Jimoh gave the warning yesterday during his maiden press conference after assuming office as the 41st CP.

    According to him, Lagos would be too hot for criminals and trouble makers as the police, in collaboration with sister agencies, would work to ensure that law-abiding Lagosians and their properties were secured.

    Also, no fewer than 50 suspected cultists have been arrested by the Lagos Police Command and are being prosecuted at various courts.

     The police chief said there would be new crime prevention and control strategies, adding that specialised units like the marine police, tactical squads, would be empowered for more effective service delivery.

    Read Also: Ribadu hands over 59 rescued kidnap victims to Kaduna govt

    Jimoh said the marine police would be equipped and deployed to patrol the creeks and riverines.

    Already, he said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has acquired gunboats and other gadgets to equip the marine police, adding that the unit was a major part of the IG’s strategic policing.

    He said: “New and varied crime prevention, control and management strategies will be adopted and implemented to nip in the bud all forms of crimes, most especially violent crimes and promptly detect those crimes that may occur.

    “The command will be more proactive in crime fighting and prevention to detect, act and deal according to the laws, with early warning signals of crimes and other threats that can snowball into disturbances of public peace and safety, or breakdown of law and order appropriately.

    “The strategies, tactics, methods and techniques being implemented by the command to fight crimes such as traffic robbery, robbery, cultism in all ramifications, curbing of violent crimes around identified black spots and other notorious crime scenes will be reinvigorated and improved upon to achieve results and get the criminals off the streets of Lagos. ‘‘

  • Why we took Melaye to DSS, by Police

    Senator Dino Melaye’ temporary relocation to the Department of State Security (DSS) on Friday was part of preliminary arrangements for his coming trial in Lokoja, Kogi state, the Nigeria Police Force has explained.

    Speaking exclusively with The Nation, police spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, an acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, stated that Melaye was taken by policemen to the medical facilities of the DSS and not their cell or detention facilities.

    He said despite claims by the embattled Senator, the police medical team has been unable to find anything to confirm he has any infirmity that could delay his trial in Lokoja.

    “On the 9th of January, 2019 we got a High Court Remand Warrant to keep him in police custody for fourteen days.

    “The police medical team at our facility examined him and concluded that he was okay to stand trial but he is insisting that he is not okay; that is why we are taking him to another government hospital.

    “He has been taken to the DSS hospital and he will be returned to us after their medical examination because he does not have any case with SSS.

    Read Also: Masked policemen whisk away Senator Dino Melaye

    “He only a case with the police and we are going to take him to court within the period covered by the Remand Warrant.

    “He will be taken to court within the period because the Remand Warrant is from an FCT High court, which gives us the permission to keep him in police custody for 14 days.

    “He was only taken to their (SSS) hospital; he is not in their custody.

    “Our people have examined him and we want another government hospital to also examine him and give a medical opinion.”

    While promising to issue an official statement later on Friday night, the police spokesman also dismissed claims Melaye was taken away from police medical facilities by masked men.

  • Offa robbery: Police diverting attention from case of extra judicial killing – Saraki

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has accused the police authorities of diversion in the alleged extra judicial killing of a prime suspect in the April 5, 2018 Offa robbery incident in which 33 persons were killed by the bandits.

    Police had reported that the suspect, Michael Adikwu had died in detention in prompting Saraki to demand inquiry into the circumstances that led to the suspect’s death.

    In response, the police authorities have said that the death of Adikwu would not in any way stall the trial of the remaining suspects.

    Police investigation had linked Saraki to some of the robbery suspects who claimed that they received empowerment from the President of the Senate and that they were in the past, used by Saraki to disrupt elections in Kwara State.

    But in a statement on Friday by his media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the President of the Senate said that the response by the Police was a mere diversionary tactic.

    According to him, the action of the police was aimed at evading the serious issues of human rights abuse, extra-judicial killing and politicization of criminal investigations.

    Read Also: Saraki has personalised Senate, says Ndume

    The statement clarified that when mentioned in his statement on Wednesday that he had been vindicated, Saraki was not referring to the outcome of a case which is just about to commence.

    Rather, the statement said he was pointing to the belated admission by the police that Michael Adikwu, the prime suspect, had died in custody, a fact that was initially denied by the police when he (Senate President) raised it a few months ago.

    He alleged a cover up by the police in the mishandling of the investigations and politicisation of the process, adding that the police authorities have continued to make inconsistent statements and committing more blunders.

    The statement said, “The police, while reacting to our disclosure that the prime suspect had died in custody, caused their spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, to respond that: ‘Michael Adikwu is in police custody in one of the South-west states…helping in the investigation’. The same Police have equally documented the claim that the suspect died during arrest. What a contradiction!

    “It is surprising that the Police which initially allowed the said Adikwu to grant interviews to several national newspapers while in custody, refused to inform the public that the suspect had died until the Attorney General of Kwara State mentioned it on November 21, 2018 in the course of his address to the High Court in Ilorin while applying to amend the charge sheet”.

    Saraki urged President Muhammadu Buhari to institute inquiry into the death of Adikwu because it has several implications for the country’s legal system and its engagement with the international community.

    This, according to him, was necessary, in view of the consistent allegations of human rights abuse and extra judicial killings against the Federal Government by the international communities and foreign rights organisations.

    He recalled that the international community has consistently cited issues of human rights abuses and extra judicial killings by Nigerian security forces for refusal to sell weapons to the Nigerian government in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “One of the key issues those of us who have been engaging with the international community on the need for them to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism in the North-east region through supply of arms, provision of training and other technical aid has been confronting is that of the flagrant abuse of human rights and extra-judicial killings by our security agencies.

    “This is an instance of what these international partners complain about. The Presidency should make a point that the present government does not tolerate human rights abuse, extra-judicial killing, politically-motivated criminal investigation and refusal to comply with global best practices by security agencies by instituting an inquiry into the case of the death of this suspect”, Saraki added.

    The Senate President called for diligent prosecution of the Offa robbery case so that justice can be done to the innocent victims of the April 5 attacks, the suspects facing trial and the state whose peace was disturbed by the sad incident.

  • Offa robbery: Reps launch investigation into death of key suspect

    The House of Representatives is to investigative circumstances of the death Michael Adikwu, a key suspect in the Offa, Kwara State robbery attack that claimed scores of lives seven months ago.

    The Committee on Police Affairs, Human Rights and Justice that was mandated to carry out the investigation is expected to uncover the Issues and questions as to when the suspect died, how he died, why the Police denied the facts of his death, at what point the Police leadership discovered the death of the suspect and why the police are covering up the facts.

    In addition, the Committee is also expected to unravel issues of human rights abuse, extrajudicial killings and manipulation of criminal Investigation by the police.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by Zakari Mohammad (PDP, Kwara), who noted how shocking was the disclosure by the Police that Adikwu, the principal suspect in the unfortunate bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State that occurred on the 5″“ of Aprii;2018 is dead.

    He said: “The Police initially confirmed to the Attorney General of Kwara State through the Police Public Relations Officer Moshood Jimoh that the principal suspect was alive and in custody and was helping the police in the investigations of the robbery that led to the killing of 22 people and recovery of firearms that were carted away.

    “Of concern however is that it took the police so long to make the disclosure about the death of the principal suspect after denying its veracity as was reported in the media.

    Read Also: Absence of principal suspect stalls Offa robbery trial

    “It is equally worrisome that there have been inconsistencies in the various statements by the police and a possible cover up of this extra-judicial killing with the aim of tarnishing the image of some innocent individuals for political p poses.

    “It is common knowledge that it is the constitutional duty of this hallowed chamber to take action wherever such level of irresponsibility and recklessness of an important law enforcement agency such as the Police have arisen in the course of investigations into a vicious crime”.

    The Committee has four weeks to carry out the assignment and report back for further legislative action.

  • IBB’s spokesman, sues IGP, others for being declared wanted

    IBB’s spokesman, sues IGP, others for being declared wanted

    *Seeks N1b for rights violation

     

    Spokesman to former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida, Kassim Afegbua has sued the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and two media houses, accusing them of violating his fundamental human rights by declaring him wanted over the statement he issued for his principal.

    There was controversy over the authenticity of the letter written last Sunday by Afegbua on behalf of Babangida.

    The police, through its spokesman, Moshood Jimoh later issued a statement declaring Afegbua wanted for allegedly “making false statements, defamation of character and for an act capable of instigating public disturbance throughout the country”.

    In a suit he filed on Tuesday, marked: FFHC/ABJ/CS/129/2018, before the Federal High Court, Afegbua faulted the police’s decision to declare him wanted without first inviting him.

    The fundamental rights enforcement suit suit filed by his lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, also has Jimoh, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Channels Televisions Limited as respondents

    Afegbua argued that he had not been formally invited by the police before declaring him wanted and thereby painted him “as a fugitive and common criminal with no modicum of dignity”.

    Afegbua described his being declared wanted as witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation and persecution, as his boss had not denied the statement he issued on his behalf.

    Justifying the inclusion of the media houses in the suit, Afegbua said the police, the IGP and the Force PRO deployed the platforms of NTA and Channels Televisions to declare him wanted.

    He argued that it was needless declaring him wanted having not been formally invited by the police or resisted arrest by the police.

    Afegabua wants the court to declare that “the continued witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and persecution of the applicant or threats thereof by the respondents ostensibly on the basis of a letter he wrote on behalf of his principal, General lbrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR, when his principal has not lodge any formal complaint to the police or any other security agency”.

    He prayed the court to declare that the decision by the 1st to 3rd respondents to declare him wanted, using the media of the 4th to 5th respondents, when there has been no formal invitation extended to the applicant or any attempt has been made to arrest him and he has resisted or refuse to honour such invitation do not only constitute prosecutorial misconduct, malicious process, misfeasance in public office by the 1st to 3rd respondents but also infringe unjustifiably, illegally and unconstitutionally upon the applicant’s fundamental rights to life, dignity of human person, liberty to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to freedom of expression, association and movement”.

    The plaintiff claimed his said rights were “guaranteed and protected respectively by sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Articles 2,4,5,6,7,9,1o,11,12 and 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement)Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

    Afegbua prayed the court for  “an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents by themselves, their officers, servants, agents and privies from (I) the continued witch-hunt, harassment, intimidation, and persecution of the Applicant or threats thereof ostensibly on the basis of a letter he wrote on behalf of his principal, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR”.

    Read Also: Afegbua will report to police Wednesday – Lawyer

    He also wants “an order directing the respondents to stay all action and to desist forthwith from proceeding with any process whatsoever, including but not limited to any purported investigation, detention, prosecution of the applicant or otherwise, which is connected, associated with or premised upon the letter he wrote on behalf of his principal, General lbrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR.”

    Afegbua, who seeks NGN1billion as damages against the respondents for the breach of his fundamental rights, equally wants “an order directing the respondents to apologise to the applicant through the media of the 4th to the 5th respondents and three national newspapers.”

    The grounds for his claims includes that he is a renowned journalist, publisher, writer, spokesperson for General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, GCFR and former Commissioner in Edo State”

    Afegbua said he “wrote a letter on behalf of his principal, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida GCFR on February 4, 2016, which was widely publicised”.

    He said there was another letter, “purportedly to have emanated from the applicant’s principal on the evening of the same February 4, 2018”.

    He said: “There has been no formal complaint by the applicant’s principal to the police or any other security agency of any infraction by the Applicant.

    “The 1st to 3rd respondents, through the media of the 4th and 5th respondents declared the applicant wanted and the action of the respondents has put the life of the applicant in serious jeopardy and he now has real trepidation for his life.

    “There was no formal invitation to the applicant from the 1st to 3rd respondents and there was no attempt by the 1st to 3rd respondents to arrest the applicant.

    “The applicant has not refused to honour any formal invitation by the 1st to 3rd respondents and he has not resisted arrest by the applicant, hence there is no basis for declaring the applicant wanted.

    “The 4th to 5th respondents used their media to broadcast to the whole world that the applicant is wanted at the behest of the 1st to 3rd respondents,” Afegbua said.

     

  • Police parades 14 for kidnapping, armed robbery

    Police parades 14 for kidnapping, armed robbery

    The Police on Thursday paraded 14 suspected kidnappers and armed robbers who operated along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

    The suspects, who belong to two separate gangs, were arrested at their hideouts and camps by personnel of the Intelligence Response Team and Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The arrest of the suspects was part of Operation Absolute Sanity designed to make the Abuja-Kaduna highway safe for road users.

    Since the operation commenced few months ago, over 80 kidnappers and other criminals have been arrested.

    Suspects paraded at Jere Police Station in Kaduna State were – Umar Mohammed Babuga (27), Umaru Kiri (26), Abdullahi Tambaya (25), Abdulkarim Musa (27), Isah Musa (30) and Sani Musa (27).

    Others were – Nura Usman (37),  Bashiru Yusuf (25), Abdulrahman Abdul (20),  Abdullahi Bali (40), Abdulrahman Hassan Nagoma,  Usman Babuga (25) and Yeti Muhammad (32).

    Items recovered from them included two AK47 rifles, 16 locally made guns, locally made AK47 rifle with ammunitions, cutlasses, sticks and charms of different sizes and colours.

    Briefing journalists on the operation, the Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said: “Consequent on the reinforcement of Operation Absolute Sanity on Abuja- Kaduna Highway with additional two units of Special Police Forces by the Inspector-General of Police to tackle the gangs of Kidnappers that escaped arrest on Abuja – Kaduna Highway and relocated to some roads around Jere to Abuja axis, the suspects were arrested in their hideouts and camps where some of their victims were rescued.

    “In the operation that is still ongoing, two different vicious and notorious kidnap for ransom gangs were dislodged and busted in their hideouts and camps between Jere – Kaduna and Jere – Abuja axis.

    “A total number of 14 suspected kidnappers were arrested in the operation. They confessed to the offence and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.”

    The police also said most of the suspects were identified by the victims for being responsible for their kidnap.

     

     

  • Army partners foundation to empower 183 women, youths

    The 31 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army (NA), Minna, on Wednesday said that it was collaborating with the Mallam Garba Foundation to train 183 women and youths under its vocational training initiative programme .

    Brig.-Gen. Moshood Jimoh, the commander of the brigade, said this at the graduation of the beneficiaries of the programme in Minna.

    “We have collaborated with the Mallam Garba Foundation to train 183 women and youths in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s (COAS) desire to empower soldiers’ families,’’ he said.

    Jimoh said that 53 of the graduates were trained in leather work, 40 in hairdressing, 21 in barbing, 52 in fashion designing and 17 in satellite installation.

    The commander said that the graduates would be given starter packs (working tools) to start practicing their various trades.

    He said that the training being the third in a row was undertaken to keep the barrack community meaningfully engaged toward eradicating negative vices among them.

    Jimoh said that the measure would ensure that soldiers were dedicated to duty because of the support from their families who would have become self-reliant.

    He advised the beneficiaries to utilise the opportunity, adding, “I will like to see you as future employers of labour.’’

    The commander promised to continue with the programme to ensure that the women and youths lived responsible lives.

    Hajiya Balarabe Salisu, a beneficiary, commended the commander for the gesture and promised to make good use of the training to better her family.