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Tag: Mr Fatai Owoseni

  • Police promises prompt payment of dead officers’ benefits

    Police promises prompt payment of dead officers’ benefits

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on Wednesday, assured quick payment of benefits to families of fallen officers.

    Owoseni gave the assurance while speaking on a marine accident in which an officer, DSP Yomi Amao, attached to the Marine Police Unit, Elegbata in Apapa area of Lagos, died.

    The commissioner also said that serving policemen would continue to get improved welfare packages.

    Three police officers were on patrol in a boat on Tuesday when they ran into an object and the boat capsized.

    The accident left Amao dead while two other officers sustained injuries.

    “The Inspector General of Police, I-GP Ibrahim Idris, had shown desired interest in the welfare of officers and men of the force.

    “We have several packages like Group Life Assurance, Death Benefits, Burial Benefits and our families know this,’’ the commissioner said.

    According to him, the Lagos State Government, in addition to what the Nigeria Police is doing, has also increased the allowance given to officers who died in active service.

    He added that the Police has scholarship scheme for children of the deceased policemen and there was the provision of houses for them.

    “Police officers retire in a place of their choice.

    “These are some of the things the Police is doing and it can only get better.’’

    He said that the Nigeria Police was experiencing challenges of inadequate information on the family of deceased officers, which he said, sometimes delay payment of their benefits.

    “The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has addressed this and will continue to do so,’’ he said.

    Owoseni, while sharing the sad news of the death of the Marine Police officer, said that the Police Marine Unit was one of the professional units of the force.

    “We have well-trained officers and they have recorded so much successes.

    “Every job has its hazards; everything needed for safety was on that boat and that is why it is called accident,’’ Owoseni said.

  • Lagos task force arrest two ‘one-chance’ operators

    Lagos task force arrest two ‘one-chance’ operators

    Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) nabbed two ‘one-chance’ operators and impounded their commercial Volkswagen bus along Mile 2, Lagos.

    The two culprits: Chuckwudi Ezeudo of No. 1, Ezeudo Lane, off Babarin street, Ajegunle and Mr. Wilfred Ukpo of No. 1, Ajose Street, Ajegunle, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos who confessed that they have been using commercial bus to rob people around Lagos were arrested around 6pm on Tuesday with their operational vehicle, a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number EPE 165 XS.

    The Chairman of the Task Force, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, SP, disclosed that the culprits specialises in picking passengers with their bus and dispossesing them of thier valuables such as phones, wallets and jewelleries.

    According to a release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the task force, Taofiq Adebayo, immediately a victim reported that he was robbed inside a commercial bus, Task Force enforcement team with KAI officials swung into action, chased them and they were apprehended along Mile 2 area with 50 different stolen mobile phones.

    He said with the directive of the court the recovered stolen phones were returned to their respective owners on ‘Bond’ after a thorough screening.

    The release stated further that the task force Chairman enjoined members of the public to always report any illegal and criminal activities around them to relevant law enforcement agencies of the State.

    The two arrested culprits were immediately charged to court on the directives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni.

    “They confessed that they operated at different parts of the state which includes Oshodi, Obalende, Orile, Pen-cinema, Ojota etc every day and that any passenger who refused to cooperate with them were beaten and thrown out of thier commercial bus on speed.

    “We have been in this business for long and we snatch/steal more than 50 phones and other items daily which we sell as fairly used at Computer village and Ajegunle”, they said.

    One of their victims whose mobile phone (Alcatel Pop Star 5) was snatched, Mr. Ajimati Adeyemi said he joined the bus with other passengers going to Mile 2 when the conductor and one other person who dressed in ‘black suite’ suddenly stood up and collected all thier phones and wallets before they were dropped at different bus-stops before Mile 2, Lagos.

    “I was surprised when I called my mobile line and I was told to come to Lagos State Task Force at Bolade, Oshodi where it was returned to me along with others”

    Another victim, Mr. Ozor Phillip who identified and testified inside court against the ‘one-chance’ operators said he was robbed of his mobile phone (Techno W2) at Arena shopping complex, Bolade, Oshodi.

    A female victim, Mrs. Yewande Adeboye who claimed to have been seriously injured after she was pushed off the moving bus by the conductor of the bus said the conductor nearly raped her before her mobile phone was snatched from her at Rainbow Bus-stop along Mile 2, Lagos.

    Meanwhile, the two thieves have been individually sentenced to 7 years jail term after they both pleaded guilty to the one count charged of ‘ conspiracy to steal and commit an offence contrary to section 409 of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2011’, levelled against them.

    Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court at Oshodi said the 7 years jailed term without option of fine was to serve as deterrent to others who were still into this illegal and criminal activities within the society.

    Magistrate Owolabi said all recovered snatched/stolen phones be given back to their individual owners on bond.

    He however ruled that the commercial bus with registration number EPE 165 XS be confiscated by the Lagos State Government.

     

     

  • Kidnapping: Lagos beefs up security in Epe, assures farmers of safety

    Kidnapping: Lagos beefs up security in Epe, assures farmers of safety

    …Vows to sustain enforcement of Okada ban

     

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday assured farmers in the State especially in Epe axis of adequate measures to protect them against incessant kidnappings, just as it vowed to pursue vigorously and sustain the renewed enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada plying restricted routes.

    Rising from the monthly Security Council Meeting chaired by the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the State Government assured residents and investors of commitment to their security and well-being, adding that no stone would be left unturned towards protecting the people.

    The State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the Council reviewed the security situation in the State in the last one month and resolved to redouble efforts where necessary.

    The CP said: “The Council has looked at the security situation in the State in the last one month and the conclusion we reached is that it has been relatively calm here and where we need to do more of interventions with the view to doubling our efforts, we have identified those areas and the commitment from the Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode remain unwavering and that every efforts that would secure Lagos and make business and commercial activities to be carried out without let or hindrance will be done.

    “The Council also reviewed the operation on the total enforcement of Okada ban and it was agreed that the renewed efforts toward enforcing the law with regards to the operation of commercial motorcycles and tricycles in the State will be sustained in view of the threat to security that we have witnessed in the past. There is a renewed commitment, we will sustain it and ensure that the State Traffic Law is effectively enforced,” Owoseni said.

    On kidnapping of farmers in Epe axis, the police boss said though it was impossible to completely eradicate crime, the State Government was working round the clock to ensure the safety of the farmers.

    He revealed that the Governor recently led top security operatives and government officials to the axis to ascertain the state of affairs and personally assured the farmers of the commitment of the State Government to ensure they carry out their farming activities without let or hindrance.

    “Yes, I can tell you that so many commitments have been made. His Excellency the Governor about two weeks ago led Security Council members to Epe where so many commitments were made and some of the measures and strategies being put in place to check this menace.

    “I want to assure the people within that axis that the commitment of the State Government to their security is unwavering and we can assure them that they will be able to do what they are doing to earn their livelihood without fears of molestation or threat of being attacked.

    “We have so many plans and I think that we are not supposed to reveal much about our strategies for now because it is a cat and mouse thing but most importantly is the commitment of everyone to the fight against crime. On the part of the State Government, I can assure the people that the commitment is unwavering,” Owoseni said.

    The CP, who addressed the briefing alongside heads of security formations in the State, however urged the people to continue to support and partner with security agencies.

  • Group to police: You can’t stop Tuface Idibia’s rally

    Group to police: You can’t stop Tuface Idibia’s rally

    The Lagos State Police command has been advised to desist from becoming authoritarian and tyrannical by attempting to stop the Tuface Idibia-led rally scheduled for February 6, this year.
    A Pro-democracy and Non-Governmental Organization, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said the Nigeria police should not attempt to stop an idea whose time has come just as it affirmed that the peaceful nation-wide rallies called by the reputable social crusader and musician, Idibia is in compliance with a plethora of human rights provisions enshrined in the Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution.
    •Tuface
    •Tuface

    The Rights group affirmed that the Lagos State commissioner Mr Fatai Owoseni was economical with the truth when he claimed sensationally that he has information that hoodlums could hijack the public protests.

    “Why can’t the police commissioner apprehend those hoodlums and stop demonstrating a high dose of dereliction of duty by falling back on such fallacious and infantile claims to attempt to stop Nigerians from exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly? The police commissioner should cover his face in shame for this verbal show of shame. The police operatives are some of the hard-hit citizens of Nigeria by poverty and the biting economic recession. Today an average police operative is living in absolute poverty due to entrenched corruption amongst the hierarchy of the Nigerian police force”.
    In a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the CP Fatai OwoseniNational Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA reminded the police that the Court of Appeal has unambiguously nullified the draconian military era’s Public Order Act even as the Court of competent Jurisdiction had ruled that the police cannot validly abridge the citizens fundamental Rights to enjoy such Constitutional freedoms such as right to freedom of speech, freedom of movement and right to peaceful assembly.
    HURIWA noted thus: “We wish to remind the Lagos State Police command that as far back as the year 2007, the Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of a Federal High Court which had, in June 2005, declared the Public Order Act, (Cap 382) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, which requires Nigerians to obtain police permit before holding public rallies null and VOID.”
    “HURIWA wishes to remind the police that in its judgment, the appellate court, presided over by Justice Danladi Mohammad, held that such police approval infringed on the fundamental human rights of individuals and groups provided for in the 1999 Constitution.”
    “The provisions of the Act are unnecessary. We are in a democracy and Nigeria has joined the league of civilised society, ‘‘Justice Olufunmilayo Adekeye, who read the lead judgment, said.”
    HURIWA has therefore canvassed popular support and participation in the publicly organised civil rights action by all right thinking Nigerians as championed by the Iconic Musician Mr Innocent Tuface Idibia.
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  • Lagos by-election: Low turnout based on poor awareness-INEC

    Lagos by-election: Low turnout based on poor awareness-INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday blamed the low turnout of voters for the Ifako/Ijaiye Federal Constituency by-election in Lagos to poor awareness.

    The election resulted from the death of Mr Elijah Adewale, who represented the constituency in the House of Representatives.

    Adewale died in Abuja on July 20.

    Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama, Supervisory Resident Electoral Commissioner
    for the Ifako/Ijaiye Federal Constituency By-election, made the observation in an interview with journalists during the election.
    He said that although the commission did its best to create awareness on the exercise, awareness of by-election generally in the country was low.

    ”Actually, awareness of by-election in Nigeria is low because people don’t know much about it.

    ”It may also be because political parties did not carry out enough campaigns, but generally, the conduct has been peaceful, ” he said.

    The commissioner said that poll officers and materials got to polling units in time.

    Also speaking to journalists during a routine inspection to the polling units, Mr Fatai Owoseni, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, said that the low turnout was because political parties and their candidates did not carry out adequate campaigns.

    ”INEC will not go and bring voters out to vote. The parties did not campaign enough for this by-election. Out of six political parties, only about two printed posters.

    ”Adequate campaigning was not done. So the people did not really know who they are voting for, ” he said.

    Owoseni confirmed that the electoral process had been without any violence.

    ”It is almost 2p.m. It has been peaceful, and I am advising the contestants to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship – election is just like a football game. There must be a winner,” Owoseni said,

    The Administrative Secretary of the commission in Lagos State, Mr Clement Oha, said: “We have been going round; we have visited 90 per cent of the polling units so far.

    ” I will say I am very impressed except that the turnout is very low. The process is peaceful.

    ”Our card readers are working 100 per cent; we have not got any complaint whatsoever”.

    On the low turnout, Oha said that INEC did its best to sensitise the people in the constituency.

    ”We went round the nooks and crannies of the constituency for two days to create awareness; so, we cannot explain why people did not turn up.

    ”But generally, I am impressed with the whole process and the conduct of voters and parties.
    “There is no violence, thuggery, ballot box snatching. All our registration area centres are in top form and ready for collation, ”Oha said.

    Mr Babatope Akinyele, the PDP candidate for the election, said that inadequate campaigns caused the voter apathy.

    NAN reports that voting had been concluded in most polling units and voting points at Iju, Fagba, Ogba as at the time of this reports, while counting had started.

  • Lagos bye-election: Parties sign peace agreement

    Lagos bye-election: Parties sign peace agreement

    Ahead of Saturday`s Federal House of Representatives by-election into Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency, some political parties in Lagos State on Friday signed a peace agreement

    The parties signed the agreement in Lagos at a meeting with Mr Fatai Owoseni, the State`s Commissioner of Police and INEC officials.

    The parties included APC, PDP, SDP and ADC, while AA and AD had no representatives.

    ”The main reason for this meeting is for stakeholders to have understanding on the need for a peaceful election; it is an opportunity for candidates to sign an undertaking for a peaceful exercise, ’’Owoseni said.

    He said that security officers drawn from the Police, Military, Civil Defence Corps and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) would be deployed to ensure the security of lives and properties during the election.

    The police commissioner said that there would be restriction of movement in the constituency between 12 midnight on Friday and the period of the election.

    Owoseni warned candidates and their supporters against violence, and told trouble-makers to stay away from areas where elections would be held.

    ”Political office holders are warned from moving freely with their security aides during the election. No vehicle is permitted to go close to any polling booth.

    ”The accreditation and voting will commence same time, anyone with observation should reach the officials and not to take laws into his hands.

    “As candidates and leaders to be, you must be able to control your supporters and agents to be of good behaviour,” he said.

    The INEC supervising officer for the South-West, Chief Shoyebi Adedeji, said that all sensitive materials had been distributed to all the wards in the state.

    Adedeji said Lagos State was the least volatile state in the country, stressing that INEC was expecting to see this on Saturday.

    It would be recalled that the former representative of Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency, Mr Adewale Elijah, slumped and died in his house in Abuja in July.

  • Lagos Police uncovers illegal oil depot in oregun

    Lagos Police uncovers illegal oil depot in oregun

    …Arrests suspected kingpin, seven others

     

    The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday uncovered an illegal oil depot located underneath the Oregun-Opebi Link Bridge in Onigbongbo Local Government Area of the State, arresting eight suspects in the process.

    The illegal oil depot was uncovered during a joint raid by men of the Lagos Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), led by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Fatai Owoseni and the RRS Commander, Mr. Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

    Owoseni, who briefed journalists shortly after inspecting the area, alongside officials of the State Lands Bureau, said the suspects had been engaging in adulteration of petroleum products, which they then proceed to sell to unsuspecting members of the public.

    “With what we have seen on ground, the magnitude of the activities taking place here, it shows that this probably must have been happening for some period, it could be years that people don’t get noticed and this could explain why some people would buy new cars, new generators and they would tell you that they put diesel inside and the engine knocks, these are probably the criminal minds behind these things.

    “They have so many drums; they even have plenty tankers here and they must have been doing this for long. They take the adulterated products out to go and sell to unsuspecting members of the public and we end up with people having their valuable items destroyed and in some cases leading to fire incidents,” Owoseni said.

    The Commissioner of Police, who confirmed that eight suspects were arrested during the raid including the kingpin of the gang carrying out the illegal activities, said a thorough investigation would be carried out, while those found culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.

    He also warned those still involved in such practice to desist forthwith, saying that there would be no hiding place as all security apparatus in the State would be deployed to the nook and crannies across the metropolis to fish out criminally minded persons.

    “We would use this to send a message across to other people that are engaged in illegal business like this, no stone would be left unturned to get to the root cause, to get to all the people that are involved; the perpetrators, the conspirators and we would ensure that the investigation is carefully handled and done to logical conclusion so that at the end of the day we would get people to face the music and deal with them according to the law.

    “Would ensure diligent prosecution as well and with that, we would be sending a message to other perpetrators that are engaged in acts like that to tell them that in Lagos no act of lawlessness and illegality would be entertained and that everyone that has run foul of the law through this kind of thing, would face the music,” the Commissioner of Police said.

    Owoseni said the area would be cordoned off by the Police immediately pending the period of conclusion of the investigation process.

    “Since this has been uncovered, a stop is going to be put to what is happening right here, because of the illegal activities of the bunkerers, you have mechanics here who are here illegally, you have food vendors here and once the illegal business taking place here is taken away, they also have to relocate somewhere else and run their business legitimately,” he said.

  • Police recover caches of arms in Lagos – Commissioner

    Police recover caches of arms in Lagos – Commissioner

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on Monday, announced the recovery of caches of arms in FESTAC area of the state.

    Owoseni said the recovery was made at 6th Avenue and that two AK 47 Riffles, 24 AK 47 fully loaded magazines, one Browning Pistol and magazine were recovered.

    Other arms recovered, he said, included 951 ammunition of 752 mm size and 1,107 ammunition of 6mm size.

    Owoseni, who confirmed this during his weekly briefing on the activities of the command, stated that the Police are doing their best possible to uncover the persons behind the stockpile.

    He, however, did not say if anyone was arrested in connection with the recovery.

    The commissioner further said that in the last two weeks, 28 robbery suspects and two kidnap suspects were arrested.

    He added four of the robbery suspects were shot dead during an exchange of gunfire with the police.

    Owoseni said 16 different types of guns, 24 AK 47 magazines, one pistol, 1, 083 ammunition, three cutlasses and 10 vehicles were recovered from the suspects.

    The suspects, arms, ammunition, vehicles and other items were shown to newsmen at the state Police Headquarters, Ikeja.

  • Abduction: Lagos deputy governor visits victims’ college

    Abduction: Lagos deputy governor visits victims’ college

  • Police arrest 65 officers in Lagos

    Police arrest 65 officers in Lagos

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Fatai Owoseni says no fewer than 65 police personnel have been arrested for various offences in the last one month.

    Owoseni told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the arrests were made in different parts of the state by the Anti-Extortionist Sqaud in the command.

    The Lagos police boss said that the action was in compliance with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police on zero tolerance to corruption and unprofessional conduct in the force.

    Owoseni said the squad arrested 33 persons as at Aug. 8, 12 more as at Aug. 24, and another 20 by Sept. 8.

    ”Some of them have been recommended for dismissal; some to be demoted in ranks. Those involved in unlawful killing have been charged to court for murder.

    ”Some others are undergoing departmental orderly room trials. There is no place for corrupt and unprofessional police in Lagos command,” he said.

    As part of efforts to ensure that officers in Lagos keep to the ethics of the force, Owoseni said he embarked on re-orientation and retraining.

    He said 75 constables had undergone training in arms handling at the Ikeja Police College, in a move to check accidental discharge.

    He said every action of the officers and men would be accounted for, stressing that the second batch of such training would come up soon.

    ”The police must know when and how to use force and they will be accountable for any force used in the course of their operation.

    ”They are to use force proportionately. Their action should not make anyone orphan, widow or widower.

    ”Policemen are servants and not masters. That is the training we had and we must keep it so,” he said.