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Tag: Musiliu Smith

  • Community policing key to winning citizens’ trust – IGP

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has identified community policing as the answer to winning citizens’ trust and attaining the mandate of the Force.

    The IGP also said he will set up Community Policing Implementation Steering Committee composed of seasoned Nigerians and experts on community policing to support the Force in achieving its goal.

    Adamu disclosed this in Abuja on Monday during the decoration and inauguration of the newly promoted Deputy Inspector General of Police.

    The decorated DIGs and the departments they are in charge of include DIG Finance and Administration, Usman Tilli Abubakar; DIG Operations, Abdulmajid Ali; DIG Logistics and Supply, Frederick Taiwo Lakanu; DIG Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence (FCIID), Anthony Ogbizi Michael; DIG Training and Development, Yakubu Jubrin; DIG Research and Planning, Aminchi S. Baraya; and DIG Information and Communication Technology, Godwin C. Nwobodo.

    On the policy thrust of his administration, “It is in line with this reality that the emphasis of my leadership is predicated on two critical principles. First is to define a clear policing vision and strategy that will guide my leadership in dealing with internal security threats with organization being on the upcoming general elections and highly organized crimes that of national security consequences. Second is to identify and emplace sound professional and intellectual minds to support me in giving effect to the strategies towards attaining my policing vision.

    “Let me clearly emphasize that policing standards and practices have to change in Nigeria if only we want to restore citizens’ trust and attain our mandate in the most effective manner.

    “We therefore, need to re-strategize and take the Police back to the community. We have to also evolve new thoughts and embrace new orientation as a Police Organisation, to work with the citizens, neighbourhood, and other strategic security actors as a pathway towards addressing communal crimes.

    “Henceforth, therefore, Community Policing strategy shall drive policing functions at all levels under my leadership and I look forward to working with the new Force Management Team towards giving effect to this policing vision.”

    On the committee that will be established, Adamu said: “Indeed, in the coming days, a Community Policing Implementation Steering Committee composed of seasoned Nigerians and experts on community policing will be inaugurated to support us in driving this process.”

    The IG while congratulating the new management team stated that promotion of officers and men under his watch will only be based on merit.

    He said: “To the new Deputy Inspectors General of Police, as we celebrate your professional feat today, you must see your elevation as a call to national duty. It is also a clear statement that under my leadership, merit shall be the overriding standard that will guide promotion. You need to, therefore, rededicate yourself to service to the Nigeria Police and the nation. The task of policing a complex nation like ours is undoubtedly arduous. But with your individual and collective experiences, I am confident that together, we can surmount the challenge.”

    He also expressed hope that the experience of the new management team will aid in the actualization of his vision for the Force.

    Read Also: IGP retires all DIGs – Police Source

    He said: “I am glad that the senior officers being decorated are not only professionally and intellectually deep, their wealth of experience shall be helpful in aiding the attainment of my vision and perfecting my goals.  I therefore, thank the Police Service Commission for supporting the Force in identifying these great professional minds and appointing them as Deputy Inspectors General of Police and members of the Force Management Team.”

    Also speaking, the Chairman of Police Service Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith while commending the IGP and the new team emphasized that they have enormous task ahead.

    He also disclosed that what he met when he resumed office in July 2018 was disturbing adding that it was similar to what the IGP met when he resumed.

    He however pledged that the Commission will continue to offer selfless and fearless care to the welfare of officers and men of the Force.

    He said: “Those who know the IGP knows that he is a round peg in a round hole. The task ahead of him is not an easy task but I trust his ability with the support of the management team, I am sure he will make a success of the herculean task.

    “To the officers to be decorated, I also want to congratulate them that they are able to reach the coveted rank of DIG. They reached the rank not only on seniority but I want to emphasize also on merit and I am sure they are going to be great asset to the administration of the IGP. I want to assure the IGP, the management team, officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force that the PSC under my leadership will continue to give selfless and fearless care to the Force and to our country.

    “I have had few meetings with the IGP and I want to say we are operating on the same frequency but I reminded him that what he met on the ground and what we met on the ground when we took over on the 25th of July last year were definitely things that will disturb a good Nigerians but gradually, we are sanitizing it especially the promotion process and I want to assure the IG, his management team, officers and men of the Force that they can only rely on us and be sure that we will continue to give good service to the Nigeria police force and to our great country.”

  • PSC reads riot act to IGP, others

    The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith on Friday read riot act to the Nigeria Police Force management.

    Smith disclosed his displeasure with the present state of the Force on Friday when the team led by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris met him.

    The meeting was the first Smith had with the team since his inauguration by Mr. President on July 25th, 2018.

    While rolling out programmes to the team, Smith stressed that they must ensure that the Police Force returns to its glorious days.

    According to a statement in Abuja on Friday by the Commission’s Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission lamented that promotion courses have been jettisoned in the Police Force with Officers enjoying several promotions without attending the expected training programmes attached with each rank.

    The Commission also stated that it will no longer consider officers recommended for promotion who have not attended requisite training programmes and passed prescribed examinations required for their next rank.

    Smith announced that one of the conditions for promotion must be attendance and passing the senior Command Course for senior officers and other prescribed courses for others.

    He said: “Henceforth, result of performance of Officers from appropriate training courses must be attached to the recommendation to the Commission for promotion, if not, the recommendation will not be considered”.

    The Chairman also advised that every Police Officer should be a licensed driver so that during operations, the sudden incapacitation of the team’s driver should not necessarily pose a serious danger to the rest of the team.

    He also spoke on Police postings and frowned at the rampant and irregular postings of officers, stressing that an Officer should be allowed to stay at a new post between two to three years.

    Read Also: IGP Idris begs Edwin Clark

    The Commission’s chairman while expressing displeasure on the long stay of Officers posted to the Police Mobile Force, where he said some Officers overstay, called for a stop to the practice.

    The PSC Chairman also expressed concern at the indiscriminate conversion of Police Specialists to General Duty without due consideration to their valuable role in the Force.

    “There is official procedure for conversion and henceforth, this should be strictly followed. Officers recruited to work in the workshop, signals and other professional Departments/Units should be left and encouraged to pursue their career progression from there since their services are also needed by the Force”

    He directed the IGP to revisit recently carried out conversions, and return them to their special departments they belong to adding that new nominal roll will soon be demanded.

    On Police uniforms, Smith called for a harmonized method of producing them so that it will be the same from a reputable source.

    He made a case for a standard and modern barracks which he said will enhance effective community policing.

    The Chairman also directed  the IGP to look into the physical fitness of his men in order to address  the growing population of pot bellied Police Officers.

    On his part, the IG reaffirmed his determination to transform the Nigeria Police to a more people-friendly, disciplined, effective and efficient police Force bearing in mind the change agenda of Mr. President.

    He noted that discipline “which is the foundation upon which the Nigeria Police Force is built will be continuously sustained.

    He solicited the support of the Commission to ensure that the highest level of discipline is elicited from members of the Force.

    IGP Idris reminded the Commission of his recommendation of some AIGs to be promoted to DIGs to replace the retired ones.

    He said the promotion will help the Force to continue to pilot the affairs of the force at the strategic level and also assist the Police in preparing for the speedily approaching Osun State gubernatorial election and the 2019 general election.

    He also urged the Chairman of the Commission to use his good office to get assistance for the Police from the federal government to enable the Force surmount some of its encumbrances.

  • Buhari swears in PSC chairman, members

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in a former Inspector-General of Police, Musiliu Smith, as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

    Smith takes over from Mike Okiro, who was also a former IGP.

    Also sworn in before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over my President Buhari were Clara Ogunbiyi, AIG Lawal Bawa (retd) and Mohammed Najatu.

    Others were – Braimoh Adogame Austin, Rommy Mom and Dr. Nkemka Jombo-Ofo.

    Buhari, at the short ceremony, also sworn in, Festus Okoye, as National Electoral Commissioner in the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

     

  • Lawyer, Police clash during Court session in Ondo

    There was a mild drama on Wednesday at a Magistrate court in Ondo State as a lawyer and police officer engaged in a brawl.

    Before the clash, there had been heated argument between the lawyer and the police officer which resulted in physical combat inside the court room during proceedings.

    It however took the intervention of security operatives in the court to bring the situation under control after some minutes of disorderliness which also affected the court proceedings.

    The police officer who was a prosecutor in charge of a case before the court was said to have insulted the lawyer who was also appearing for a defendant in the same case before the court.

    Trouble started when a matter involving a middle aged man whose name was given as Afeez Smith who claimed to be a biological son of a former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Musiliu Smith and used the name to dupe one Fabode Akinsola and others including police officers.

    Read Also: Youths protest alleged neglect in Ondo

    The case which was brought before Magistrate B F Ajibade was said to have generated serious controversies and the court had granted the accused person bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties.

    The court insisted that the two sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must present evidence of tax payment.

    However, at the resumed hearing of the case, the lawyer in company of the sureties informed that the whereabout of the accused person was unknown to him.

    But, the police prosecutor told the court that the lawyer lied before the court on the whereabouts of the accused person, insisting that the development suggested that the accused person had jumped bail.

    The police prosecutor said the accused person had absconded because of another criminal offence he allegedly committed.

    This prompted the lawyer to rise  and went straight to the prosecutor after which they engaged in physical combat.

    The development threw the court into rowdy session for some minutes as litigants and others inside the court scamper for safety.

  • Fashola: My dad lived exemplary life

    Fashola: My dad lived exemplary life

    •One year remembrance for Governor’s father

    Dignitaries including the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, Clerics and former Inspector General of Police, Mr Musiliu Smith yesterday joined Governor Babatunde Fashola and his siblings at the One Year Remembrance prayer for the late Pa Ibrahim Ademola Bayo Fashola, their father.

    In a lecture delivered at the ceremony which took place at the Surulere Junior Secondary School, Ladipo Labinjo Crescent, Surulere, the Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur Rahman Ahmad, urged everyone to live in full recognition that a day of judgement would come.

    He stressed that it should be the preoccupation of man to invest his resources in propagating the works of Almighty God because He is the one that has invested man with all the good things of life including sound health, intelligence and wealth.

    Prayers were later offered for the children, wives and siblings of Pa Fashola, who died on August 5 last year. He was 80.

    Fashola described his late father as a disciplinarian and a man of integrity who lived an exemplary life, adding that his life taught everyone a great lesson in contentment.

    He noted that during his life time, the late Pa Ibrahim Ademola Bayo Fashola built his life around people, spending time in building a very extensive family not just for people who are related to him by blood, but people whose life he impacted.

    “We are sad that he is not here, we are proud to hold the love, the values that he lived by of being his brother’s keeper, for being contented in whatever situation we may found ourselves and serving God and serving humanity”, the Governor said.

    At the occasion were, widow of the late Alhaji Fashola, Cecilia, children, other family members, members of the state executive council, members of the National and Lagos State House of Assembly, Local Government Chairmen, Royal Fathers and Clerics amongst others.