The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peace Corps

  • Court orders Police to pay Peace corps N12.5m over detention of its officials

    Court orders Police to pay Peace corps N12.5m over detention of its officials

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Nigeria Police to pay N12.5 million to the Peace Corps of Nigeria as compensation for unlawful arrest and detention of its officials.

    The court also ordered the Police to unseal the headquarters of the corps in Abuja, which was sealed since Feb. 28, when Police invaded the premises during the official inauguration of the building.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawale gave the order on Thursday when he delivered judgment in a fundamental human rights suit instituted by the corps against the Police and five others.

    The judge held that the Police and the other security agents involved in the seal of the Peace Corps premises acted outside their statutory powers.

    Kolawale said that the Police and other security agents had statutory powers to make arrest and detain people, but that such powers must be exercised within the ambits of the law.

    He held that the Police failed to establish that the Peace Corps officials committed a crime before they arrested and detained them.

    The judge further said that the allegations by the Police and other respondents that the Peace Corps was engaging in military and paramilitary training was not sufficiently established before him to justify their unlawful action.

    According to the judge, the allegation of extortion of money and the alleged threat to national security made against the Peace Corps officials was not backed with any document from the victims.

    He also faulted the claim by the Police that it invaded the Peace Corps house based on intelligence report.

    He described the claim as amorphous as there was no evidence before the court to justify it.

    The judge held that the Peace Corps, as a lawfully registered organisation, was entitled to own movable and immovable property and that under no circumstance should any security agent deny the corps this right.

    He therefore ordered the Police to pay N12.5 million to the Peace Corps officials in order to appease them for the harassment and intimidation they suffered when they were unlawfully arrested and detained.

    He also ordered that the headquarters of the corps, sealed in the last nine months be unsealed.

    The judge further ordered that no attempt should be made by any of the respondents to frustrate officials of the Peace Corps from accessing the building to carry out their duties.

    The corps in March, instituted the suit against the Police, the Inspector-General of Police and the National Security Adviser.

    Other respondents in the suit were the Department of State Security Services and its Director-General and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    The corps was asking the court for an order directing the respondents to pay N2 billion as compensation for its officials who were injured during the invasion of its premises.

    The compensation was also a remedy to the violation of their fundamental rights which the corps said was violated by their arrest and detention without a valid court order.

    NAN

  • Peace Corps officer arrests four robbers, rescues two victims

    Peace Corps officer arrests four robbers, rescues two victims

    AN operative of Peace Corps, Adebisi Mukaila Michael, in a rare display of bravery has rescued two persons, Temilola Isiaka and Kehinde Daodu from a gang of four armed robbers at Orisumabare area in Osogbo, Osun State and handed them over to the police.

    According to eyewitnesses, Michael was driving along the area when he sighted the robbers armed with dangerous weapons attacking the victims around 8pm. He was said to have engaged the robbers to save Temilola and Kehinde.

    It was learnt that Michael was assisted by some passersby and he succeeded in disarming the robbers and took them to the Dugbe Divisional Police Station.

    Two member of the gang arrested, Kaseem Oladehinde and Idowu Hazzan have since been arraigned in a magistrate court in Oshogbo.

    Police Prosecutor, Mr Ajayi Sunday told the court that Oladehinde and Idowu and others at large at about 8:00pm at Orisumibare stole a bag containing the sum of one hundred and ninety six thousand naira (N196, 000.00) and a mobile phone.

    Ajayi also told the court that “the accused persons attacked two persons, Isiaka Temilola and Kehinde Daodu with dangerous weapons and injured the Peace Corps officer that recued them.”

    The police prosecutor added that the accused persons also damaged the Peace Corps Officer’s Toyota Highlander vehicle with registration number JJJ 242 GQ, and stole his identity card and ATM card.

    Michael, who was also present in court during the arraignment said the accused persons also took his uniform and desert boots from his car. Michael sworn to an affidavit in which he listed the items that the accused persons took from his car.

    The police prosecutor told the court that the accused persons committed various offences contrary to and punishable under the law. The accused persons pleaded guilty.

    In her ruling, Magistrate Adenike Olowolagba ordered that the accused persons be remanded and adjourned the case till November 8, 2 017.

  • Nigeria Peace Corps Bill not before Buhari – Enang

    Nigeria Peace Corps Bill not before Buhari – Enang

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, says Nigeria Peace Corps Bill is yet to be presented to the President for assent.

    He said at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja that the bill was yet to complete its legislative process at the National Assembly.

    Enang said that he was unaware of any bill that had been passed by the legislature that was pending before Buhari for his endorsement.

    “I have heard some members of the public saying that the Petroleum Industry Bill has been passed and has not been assented to.

    “Some said that the Peace Corp Bill has been passed and sent to the president and has not been signed or that it is already a law and people have started buying forms.

    “Some said that they have started sowing uniform and that some states have started operations, as if Peace Corp, as if it were, is a law.

    “I want to use this opportunity to say the Peace Corp legislative process has not yet been completed to the extent that it should be forwarded to the president

    “It has not been forwarded to the president and so, it is not yet pending for assent,’’ he said.

    Enang advised the public not to be worried about the bill, and warned that anybody acting on the bill, whose legislative processes were yet to be completed, was illegal.

    “The Bill processes have not been completed and it has not been forwarded to the president for assented to become law, and therefore, anything anybody does, using the bill is at the person’s risk.

    “As an agency that has not been established, it cannot start operation; it cannot engage people, it cannot generate revenue unless and until it is established by law. Therefore, I will urge Nigerians not to be worried.

    “The last time before the bill went back to the legislature, the Federal Government, the police and other agencies did something to draw attention to the status of the Peace Corp but it does appear that it is going back to where it was.’’

    It would be recalled that Bill establishing the Corps, which was sponsored by Sen. Bayero Nafada (APC-Gombe), was passed by the Senate in July, 2017.

    The bill was passed in a unanimous voice vote after the Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Sen. David Umaru, had presented report on issues surrounding adoption of the conference report on it. (NAN)

  • ‘Peace Corps will help address Nigeria’s security challenges’

    The Cross River State Commandant of the Nigeria Peace Corps, Patriot Okweche Dominic, says theorganisation will help address the country’s security challenges when it gets the full support of the government.

    Okweche, who stated this during a rally organised in Calabar to appreciate the National Assembly for the passage of the bill establishing the organisation, said that there’s more to security than bearing arms.

    While lauding the doggedness and commitment of the National Assembly towards the passage of the bill, the Commandant said the lawmakers and the President, Muhammadu Buhari, have the interest of Nigerians at heart which is why they have collectively ensured that the bill is passed, to create employment for the teeming youths.

     

  • Maitama Sule stood for unity, says Peace Corps boss

    Maitama Sule stood for unity, says Peace Corps boss

    The National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Ambassador Dickson Akoh has described the late Maitama Sule as somebody who stood for the peace and unity of Nigeria.

    Reacting to the elder statesman’s death, the PCN boss in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja said: “The Peace Corps of Nigeria commiserate with the Federal Government, the Kano State Government and indeed Nigerians in general over the demise of an illustrious Nigerian, an orator par excellence, Elder Statesman, Alhaji (Dr) Maitama Sule, Dan Masanin Kano.

    “Before his transition into eternal glory at a ripe age of 87 years, resonated de persona which actually defined his leadership qualities in all ramifications of our National life; he exuded the candour of an astute politician and selfless Nationalist and his fidelity to the indivisibility of the Nigerian project was not only legendary, but simply unbeatable.

    “As a man not easily convinced by multiplicity of men fighting a particular course, but would always seek out reasons before venturing into either declaring supports or opposition to an idea on display, he stood as an eagle with uncompromising standard as he offered his continuous and total support towards the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps before the National Assembly at that time. His supports for the Bill no doubt acted as a clarion call on many leaders of thought in our nation, as Peace Corps of Nigeria got an overwhelming support from all across the Nation, indeed he will be forever remembered by Officers and Men of the Peace Corps of Nigeria.

    “He will always be in the minds of Nigerian youths for the unprecedented support and policy initiatives he championed which has led to the emancipation of the youth into the main stream of activities of our dear nation.

    “We recount with mix feelings of fulfillment and sadness how he magnanimously Chaired our 18th Anniversary Celebration held at Eagle Square with colorful event such as the Anniversary Parade  just a year ago, despite his age, he was not weary as he equally Honored us by making it to the Gala Night held at International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja later that evening, his charisma and oratorical prowess were on display, a development that made that event a reference point in the annals of such occasions in Nigerian history.

    “We join the good people of Kano State to mourn the Elder state man that stood for the Unity of our dear Nation even till death; his Nationalistic spirit is cherished by all our members across the Nation.  May the ever merciful and most benevolent God grant his departed soul eternal rest!”

  • Court fixes July 6 for judgment over Peace Corps boss’ detention

    A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday fixed July 6 for a judgment on the fundamental human rights enforcement suit brought by Peace Corps of Nigeria against the police and other security agencies over the arrest and detention of the group’s leaders on February 28, 2017.

    In the suit filed by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), the Peace Corps boss, Mr. Dickson Akoh, is demanding N2 billion as compensation for the embarrassment caused the Corps by the arrest and detention.

    Other reliefs sought by the corps include that the court should declare that it is entitle to fundamental rights to acquire and own properties, organise lawful assembly and freedom of movement.

    The defendants in the suit are: the Police, Inspector -General of Police, National Security Adviser, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and its director-general as well as the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, Agabi raised some questions for determination

    He said: “The question for determination is whether the first applicant (Peace Corps) is a legitimate organisation

    “The respondents conceded that this is true, but only concerned that the organisation is engaged in paramilitary activities without substantiating them.

    “I submit that the respondents are unable to substantiate their allegations.I urge my lord to grant all the reliefs sought by the applicants.”

    Agabi said exhibit attached to the proof of evidence was a police report, which states that the activities of the organisation were legal.

    He added that no appeal was recorded against the judgments won by the applicants.

    Counsel to first and second respondents David Igbodo submitted that he had filed a counter-motion in opposition to the applicants’ claims.

    “We urge this honourable court to dismiss the application. The affidavit of 90-count charge bordering on money laundering, training of militia and engaging in illegal activities, are pending before a high court.

    “Their case is lacking in merit and of no consequential order,” he said.

    Oyinkole Oshd, counsel to third to sixth respondents, held that in view of Section 35 1c, the arrest and detention can’t be said to be unlawful having been made upon a reasonable suspicion of committing a crime.

    After listening to the submissions, Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed July 6 for judgment.

  • ‘Proliferation of security agencies, threat to national security’

    ‘Proliferation of security agencies, threat to national security’

    A former Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr Lawrence Alobi says the proliferation of security agencies in the country is a threat to national security.

    Alobi, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, observed that creating more security agencies could breed rivalry and fragmentation of resources meant for the existing ones.

    He said that the Federal Government should put in more energy towards strengthening the Nigeria Police Force, rather than creating more security outfits.

    Alobi noted that the police force was the principal security agency in the country and needed to be strengthened to effectively carry out its statutory responsibilities.

    “The Federal Government should put its resources and strengthen the police force; if strengthened and equipped, well trained and catered for,you will get a good result,” he said.

    He expressed concern over the recent passage of a bill by the National Assembly to establish the Peace Corps of Nigeria.

    He advised political leaders to be guided in carrying out their functions and should avoid being sentimental in handling national issues.

    “Our government and political leaders should be well guided; they should not allow sentiment to becloud their sense of judgment and reasoning,` `he advised.

    Alobi also noted that the military was being utilised to assist the police, adding that such measure had its negative implications.

    “Here in Nigeria, the military is used to carry out the functions of the police, which is not healthy for our democracy; we should not militarise law enforcement and policing.

    “It makes the military to deviate from their statutory function. It makes the public to feel that only the military can perform, and then undermine the strength of the police,” he said.

    He said that intelligence sharing among security agencies in the country would be ineffective unless there was a law making it mandatory.

    “The issue of sharing intelligence information is not mandatory; it is discretionary. If there is a law that makes it mandatory, there wouldn’t be conflicts among the security agencies.

    “The DSS’s role is to gather intelligence and pass it to the police to act. When they gather intelligence and act at same time, there will be conflict,“ he said.

    Mr Mike Ejiofor, a security consultant and former Director of DSS, also said that the proliferation of security outfits would adversely affect the existing security agencies.

    He said that it would be out of place to create more security agencies when the regular security agencies were not being adequately funded.

    He said that the police and the DSS were the security agencies charged with intelligence gathering in the country.

    “Our regular security agencies must be adequately funded because we have so many security challenges in the North-East, Niger Delta, South – South and South- East,” he said..(NAN)

  • Peace Corps: Posers for police

    In their cruel determination to drive Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) out of existence, there is no lie considered too ‘sacrilegious’  to be told about it. The situation has gotten so bad that even the truth that is so glaring is being turned upside down. This explains why supposedly government law-enforcement institutions have long kissed truth goodbye and embraced lies as an instrument of their operation. In a nutshell, they have elevated falsehood into an art.

    Ever since they rudely invaded the new Corporate Headquarters of the PCN, arrested and detained the National Commandant, Dr. Dickson Akoh, and forty-nine other officers, these implacable enemies of the Corps have been rather shifty in the way and manner they supply one lie after another. They have perfected the art of lying to the extent that they keep manufacturing them with the passage of each day.

    This pathetic lie of the Police Force came to a heady climax with the recent affidavit disposed to by one Sgt. Philip Tumba of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Legal Department of the FCT Police Command, which was sworn to at the Registry of Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, 21 March, 2017. In the aforementioned affidavit which contained tissue of‘ lies, the Police denied what is already well known in the public domain.

    Apparently aware of the water-tight case of the PCN against it and the impending embarrassing defeat staring it in the face, the Police Force resorted to what it knows how to do best—lying, even on oath, which is a serious criminal offence punishable under the laws of the land.

    Sgt. Tumba, through that affidavit, was either being economical with the truth or merely elected to stand honesty on its head when he denied that the act of rascality perpetrated by security operatives on the premises of the Corps on Tuesday, 28 February, 2017, was not an invasion, but a lawful execution of its duty.

    He also lied when he said that no officer of the Peace Corps was brutalised or injured. He even chose to fault the PCN’s position that some of its officers were brutalised and admitted at National Hospital, Abuja, a position that has already been confirmed by several media reports supported with pictures of the victims. To further buttress the position of the PCN on the issue, journalists from Channels,NTA and AIT, including Radio Nigeria and other radio stations actually interviewed the victims at the hospital and even captured their pictures.

    If the Police Force claimed that it did not arrest any Peace Corps Officer, does it mean that Akoh and the 49 others that were paraded on 1st March, 2017 flew to Force Headquarters to be paraded as such? How did the police get the official uniform and portrait of the National Commandant that it gleefully displayed to the world as exhibits?

    In that same aforementioned affidavit, which is riddled with lies, the Police Force went on to further lower its esteem in the eyes of the whole world when it described its closure of the Peace Corps offices nationwide, especially the National Headquarters, Abuja, which the Police have cordoned off with Armoured Personnel Carrier and a pick-up van as a mere cordoning off of a “scene of crime to secure it for further and detail investigation.”

    The question to ask is: why didn’t the Police conclude investigation before rushing into this premeditated action of beating, arresting and detaining innocent Nigerians? Why the indecent haste in closing a legal organisation that is duly registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)?

    In No 11 of the affidavit, the Police Force gave itself kudos for doing what it said was for “public good and interest in order to prevent further illegal extortion of money from the unsuspecting members of the public.” Nothing can be further from the truth! This case of extortion that the Police keep recycling about the Corps has been over-flogged. This is the same allegation, which the Police Force itself and the ICPC investigated and gave the Corps a clean bill of health in the past.

    The allegation of the Corps creating camps in different parts of the country and organising military-like training is neither here nor there. I wish to restate for the umpteenth time that the Corps had never claimed to be or acted like a paramilitary organisation as it does not have the power to arrest, detain or prosecute.  Over the years, the training of its recruits has always been observed by both the Police, DSS, officials of Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, including Traditional Rulers of the Local Government Areas where the Training Camps are situated.

    On the issue of the Corps providing uniforms and badges of ranks for its recruits, it is necessary to state here that in Nigeria today, there are about 47 youth organisations that wear uniforms with badges of ranks, including Boys Scouts, Boys Brigade, Girls Guide and even the ubiquitous officials of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) popularly called ‘Agberos’. How many have the Police raided or closed?

    If the PCN is as notorious as the Police would want Nigerians to believe, how come the respected umbrella body of the whole world cum Africa, the United Nations and African Union respectively gave it a Special Consultative Status under their Economic and Social Councils (ECOSOC)? How come millions of Nigerians are not on the same page with the Police Force in its malicious claims on the Corps?

    The truth about this matter is that the Police Force has shot itself in the foot and is trying to find a convenient way out of its self-imposed logjam. This tango between the Police Force and the PCN has exposed its hypocrisy and its wanton ways of parading alleged criminals even before investigation is concluded. Its actions against the Corps are a clear case of vendetta. So, no amount of side-tracking the truth will save the Police Force from the sword of Damocles that is hanging ominously over its head. History, like the late Nnamdi Azikiwe once said, will vindicate the just.

     

    • Oche is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja

     

  • Peace Corps Patriots seek NASS intervention

    Peace Corps Patriots seek NASS intervention

    Patriots of the Nigeria Peace Corps have appealed to members of the National Assembly to caution the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to stop the harassment of their National Commandant, Dr. Dickson Akoh.

    The Patriots said Dr. Akoh should be commended for doing well to decongest the unemployment market by recruiting young men and women into the Corps.

    A statement signed by Blessing Ademokhai and and Peter Osoiwan urged the ed National Assembly members to cause the IG to justify the continued harassment of Dr. Akoh.

    The statement said it was shameful and disgusting when security agencies conduct unconstitutional acts by harassing an organization whose bill has already been passed into law and awaiting the President assent.

    According to the statement, “The greatest challenge is our country today is that of unemployment and since Dr. Akoh has done a lot to tackle unemployment, his vision should be supported.”

    “Dr. Akoh was unlawfully detained and has since been deprived of his fundamental human rights and freedom.”

  • Peace Corps: Cocktail of fallacies

    Peace Corps: Cocktail of fallacies

    It was with considerable effort that I managed to restrain myself from shedding tears when I saw the visuals of the parade of the National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Amb. (Dr) Dickson A. O. Akoh, and 47 other officers of the Corps before newsmen on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, in Abuja.
    It would be recalled that Akoh and his officers were abducted on Tuesday, February 28 , 2017, around 11:30pm at the new Corporate Headquarters of the Corps situated opposite Jabi Lake, Abuja, after a highly successful unveiling of the new office, an event that was beamed live to the whole world by the NTA and AIT.
    In trying to justify what millions of Nigerians youths regard as a calculated attempt to silence their leader, tissues of lies were dished out, all aimed at hoodwinking the unwary members of the public. According to an adage, lies told repeatedly, if they are not corrected, over time assume the status of truth in the minds of unsuspecting members of the public.
    It is for this reason that I feel constrained to respond to some of the lies told about the PCN with a view to setting the records straight.  It is indeed laughable to say that the arrest of Akoh and his men was an attempt to halt and rid the country of illegal and unlawful security outfits constituting a threat to national security. Nothing can be further from the truth! PCN has never claimed to be or acted as a security outfit. The pertinent question to ask the accusers of PCN is: How does a legal entity duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) constitute a security threat? If the nation’s security agencies can invest half of the overzealousness it used in pouncing on the officials of the PCN, then kidnapping, armed robbery and other ancillary crimes threatening the foundation of Nigeria would become history in Nigeria today.
    To further add salt to injury, those who decided to play Pontius Pilate over PCN went to the ridiculous extent of saying that the Corps flag and beret have resemblance to that of Gambia and officers on UN mission respectively. In what way is resemblance in colour a crime?
    In a case reminiscent of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it, the traducers of the PCN said that intelligence reports had it that the Corps was acquiring weapons and conducting covert military training in different parts of Nigeria. The question to ask (and answer) is: Was any weapon found when security operatives conducted a search on the headquarters of the Corps? The answer, of course, is a resounding NO!
    The truth is that anytime the Corps is embarking on training of its personnel, it usually invites DSS, Police and Civil Defence etc to its training Camps to ensure that the process complies with laid-down rules. To also say that subversive groups and terrorists have infiltrated the Corps is another cheap lie that is not worth dignifying with any response.
    Similarly, the allegation of extortion of money from applicants levelled against the Corps remains just that – a mere allegation. This is an allegation that the Police and ICPC have investigated in the past and given the Corps a clean bill of health.
    At this juncture, it is also necessary to tell the whole world that in a report on its investigation of the activities of the PCN dated April 25, 2008, which was signed on behalf of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Bureau, by Shehu Babalola, the then Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, the Nigeria Police Force exonerated the PCN from any form of shady deal. Part of the report reads: ‘’since its eleven years of existence (1998—2004) it has operated in twenty-six states and the FCT, the Corps as an entity has not been involved in any shady deals or any anti-social or subversive activities that constitutes any security threat.’’ What more can we say? It is on this clean record that the Corps under Dickson Akoh’s leadership has been operating till date.
    It is indeed confounding that anyone could suddenly wake up to brand an organisation that has been in operation for the past 18 years plus as an illegal entity. Happily enough, a high preponderance of Nigerians are not on the same page with the accusers of the Corps on this issue.
    It is pertinent to state here that probably enamoured of the success story of the PCN, both the United Nations and African Union granted it a Special Consultative Status under their Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It is heart-rending that instead of appreciating the enormous sacrifices Akoh has made in empowering Nigerian youths, a cardinal responsibility that successive governments have shirked, this illustrious Nigerian is being harassed, hounded and humiliated. In civilised parts of the world, the likes of Akoh are eulogised for their patriotism in giving the monster of youth unemployment a good fight.
    What majority of Nigerians find irksome is that this is happening at a time a Bill to give the Corps statutory backing has been passed by the National Assembly and awaiting presidential assent.
    It is either that the accusers of the Corps are being economical with the truth or standing honesty on its head to assert that the Corps members have no right to wear uniforms. On this issue, Dr. Akoh has this say: ‘’There is a national youth development policy that spells out roles on how youth organisations can operate and we have 47 uniform youth organisations. We have been operating within our scope…’’
    Though, the overzealousness of the nation’s security agencies  has been over-flogged in the past, it is pertinent to state here that the latest invasion of the PCN office by a large contingent of security personnel armed to the teeth is taking over-zealousness to another dangerous dimension. It is this kind of pseudo-official opposition to well-intentioned private initiatives that has rendered Nigeria prostrate and devoid of private developmental projects.
    Instead of dissipating energy on anachronistic ventures like hounding officials of the PCN and trying to drive the organisation aground, the nation’s security agencies should rather invest that energy in fighting all manner of criminal elements and groups that are currently holding the nation by the jugular. I rest my case!

    •Ochela, a commentator on national issues, wrote in from Abuja.