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Tag: Police chief

  • Police chief Sobulo buried

    Police chief Sobulo buried

    Amid wailings, family members, friends, colleagues, on Saturday, gathered at the Police College Dining Hall at Ikeja, Lagos, to pray for the late Commissioner of Police(CP) Tunde Sobulo.

    The remains of the gallant police officer were also interred that day in Atlanta Georgia, United States.

    A former commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Hakeem Odumosu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), was in tears when Assistant Superintendent of Police Raji Jamiu and Wahid Onikealu said they were only gathered because they accepted their fate.

    He said: “I realised what life meant through the late Sobulo. He made some of the police officers and that is why many of them are here to pay their last respect. Death is inevitable but what matters is what people say about you when you are gone. People should imbibe good characters while they are alive.”

    Deputy Commissioner of Police, Isaac Ogunmoyede, who represented the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase and the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Bala Hassan of Zone II Onikan, Lagos, described the late officer as dedicated.

    The deputy commandant of the police college Ikeja, Oga Ero, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said it was very unfortunate that they all gathered because of the loss.

    “How I wish it was a celebration of achievements. I knew him for a long time. When I was in Force Investigation Department (FID); he was at the command. He fought crime to a halt. Whenever criminals heard his name, they ran away. He was a crime fighter, a defender of human rights, a fine police officer and very dedicated to his works. We thank God for the good life he lived. Whatever project he started will be completed, none would be abandoned. It is a promise we must keep,” Ero said.

    Sobulo is survived by his wife and five children.

  • Police chief vows to rid Oyo of crimes

    Police chief vows to rid Oyo of crimes

    The new Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade, yesterday pledged to forge closer ties with the people for improved policing.

    He was addressing officers after receiving the baton from his predecessor, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, at Eleyele, Ibadan.

    Oyebade listed closer ties with the people as one of his methods to rid the state of crimes.

    He said other methods included policing with the fear of God, respecting the human rights of suspects, welfare of his subordinates and promotion of tutorials on personal security.

    The police boss said the command would engage in professional policing in line with the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP’s) commitment to change the perception of the security agency.

    He said: “The new police we are building under the leadership of the IGP is a people’s police, a proactive police and a dynamic institution that is alive to the task of ensuring public order, prevention of crime and securing life and property.”

    Oyebade enjoined officers and men to key into the new vision or find their way out.

    He advised divisional police officers to create a conducive environment for their subordinates, stressing that success in the assignment was better achieved through team work.

    The police commissioner vowed to build on the achievements of his predecessor, whom he described as one of the best and brightest in the Force.

    Katsina described the new commissioner as an “intelligent, thorough, hardworking and highly-professional officer.”

    He urged the officers and men to support him.

  • Police chief risks contempt over invasion of property

    A traditional ruler and businessman, Chief Moroof Owoola has accused the police of unlawful invasion of his property at Oke Ira Nla area of Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    The police action,he claimed, violated  a perpetual order issued by a Lagos High Court, Ikeja,restraining the police from invading the property.

    He said that  police operatives led by  Superintendent of Police, Stephen Ogbaje, stormed the  property at about 4 pm on Tuesday August 18, 2015; “harassed my workers and destroyed building materials at the site. They also arrested my brother, Idowu Jimoh, and seized some handsets and communication gadgets belonging to those working at the site despite a subsisting perpetual injunction against the Inspector General of Police and his men.”

    He said the court order given by Justice Lateefat Okunnu on May 25, 2015, was served on the office of the IGP and Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FEDSARS) Abuja as well as Lagos police commissioner, Area Commander of Area J, Ajah; Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Langbasa Police Division; General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of Nigeria Army, Lagos and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Lagos.

    “ I was therefore shocked that the police ignored the ruling and perpetrate illegality by invading my property. The actions of the IGP and his men are contemptuous in this regard and I won’t take it easy on this matter,” he said.

    Justice Okunnu had  berated the police for dabbling into a purely civil matter.

    The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, failed  to respond to enquiries by our correspondent at press time.

     

  • Police chief orders hoodlums’ arrest

    Police chief orders hoodlums’ arrest

    Lagos State Police Commissioner Kayode Aderanti has ordered Area ‘B’ Apapa Commander Nim Anene, an Assistant Commissioner (ACP), to arrest hoodlums who operate during traffic gridlock on Apapa-Oshodi expressway, Mile 2 and Ijora.

    He also urged him to decongest traffic with the new power motorcycles given to the command.

    Commissioning the five motorcycles code-named Police Bravo One to Police Bravo Five yesterday, Aderanti praised Anene’s creative idea in crime fighting.

    This, he said, would go a long way in reducing the menace of hoodlums who take advantage of traffic gridlock to rob motorists.

    “With these power machines, you will chase robbers and make sure you arrest them to face the wrath of the law,” he said.

    Aderanti enjoined other area commanders to emulate Anene.

    “The hoodlums’ menace has come to the level where they should be shown that the command is still in control and no hoodlum should be allowed to disturb the peace of road users in Lagos,” he said.

    Earlier, Anene told Aderanti that the use of motorcycles because imperative when his officers found it difficult to penetrate the traffic to get to where the hoodlums were operating.

    At times, he said, it took hours with vehicles to get to the spot, but with motorcycles, things would be different.

     

     

  • Police chief, neighbour bicker over land

    An entrepreneur, Mr Kayode Apara, has accused an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Area E Command, Festac Town, Mr Dan Okoro, of invasion of his landed property in the Idowu Egba community, Isheri, a suburb of Lagos.

    Our correspondent obtained a copy of the petition forwarded to the Lagos Police Commissioner, Mr Kayode Aderanti and Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, wherein counsel to Apara, Mr Omobolaji Adejumo, alleged that ACP Okoro unlawfully annexed the property.

    The petition reads in parts­: “ Our brief revealed that our client is the beneficial owner of a property lying and situate at Idowu Egba community in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. Our brief further revealed that our client has been in exclusive possession of the said land since the year 2000 with no let or hindrance from anyone; and he has remained in physical possession of the said land exercising all rights of ownership. In fact, the said land is used as a farm by our client.”

    “Our client informed us that on April 25 around 4pm, he was informed by his son that some fierce looking men numbering about 30 armed with cudgels and other dangerous weapons broke through the fence of the farmland and started destroying everything that was on the farm and that they came through a compound belonging to the said ACP Dan Okoro.”

    Expatiating further, he said: “All fishes in the ponds which is a source of livelihood to our client was destroyed alongside the pond they were kept. The sealing of the farmland and the destruction of the boundaries is a cause for concern as the family is denied of their source of livelihood and at the moment the immediate impact of this intrusion is assessed at five million naira only. This is naked oppression that should not rear its head in any civilized society or democracy…”

    Okoro however dismissed the allegations as untrue.

    He said: “If he (Apara) has any issue with the land, he should go and meet the original landowners who sold the land to him. Does he think that I am a novice? If he has any title relating to the land, let him prove it. He should go to the family that sold the land to him.

    “I don’t even know him. I have not met the man anywhere; I cannot even meet him on the road and recognize him. So, how can I annex his landed property. I don’t get myself involved in messy transactions. Tell him to stop touting my name about issues that are false.”

    In a swift reaction, Apara said that Okoro was being economical with the truth.

    “ We are neighbours and we have interacted several times over the years. He has a building in the neighbourhood and he is just building a multimillion naira hotel close to my farm which he has annexed. How can he say that he does not know me; he knows that I am the Secretary of Idowu Egba Community Development Association and we have spoken on a number of occasion. I have asked the chairman of the CDA to talk to him (Okoro) but he has refused to back down on annexing my land.

    “ I bought the land from the Idowu Egba Family and it was duly receipted for, therefore, Okoro lacks the moral right to refer me to the family all in his bid to use his position to take my land from me because he wants an extension for a hotel that he is building next to the land.”

  • Be professional, neutral—Police chief

    Be professional, neutral—Police chief

     The Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police  Zone Six, Tunde Ogunsakin, has called on policemen on election duty in Rivers State to be professional and neutral while carrying out their responsibilities.

    Ogunsakin made the call while addressing a special team of mobile policemen  in Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday.

    Also in his speech, the Election Duty State Commissioner of Police (CP), Hassan Hosea Karma, strictly charged them to ensure that peaceful and credible elections are conducted in their respective locations without any loss of life.

    The AIG, who said that today’s election was crucial to all Nigerians, warned against policemen escorting politicians in and out of polling units.

    He said a monitoring team had already been set up to monitor the activities of the men on duty posts.

    “The success of this election rests squarely on you doing what mobile policemen are known for. Election is a divine moment to find out whether you will be rewarded with promotion, rewarded for doing what is good and right or whether you will be punished for doing what is wrong.

    “You are directed to go out there to be fair to all the parties and do your work as professional policemen.

    “You are going to be posted to eight different areas for action. We are not unaware that some criminals are planning to cause trouble.Wherever you find yourself, you are supposed to be as agile as possible and  deal  with anybody that will cause a breakdown of law and order.

    “We are going to set up monitoring police units as directed by the Inspector General of Police. Policemen that escort politicians will be arrested and dealt with. Not only the policemen that will be dealt with, but also their principals. Politicians should take note of this and do what is right.

  • Lekki robbery: gunmen were professionals, says police chief

    Lekki robbery: gunmen were professionals, says police chief

    LAGOS Police Chief Kayode Aderanti yesterday described as professionals the gunmen who raided a First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch in Lekki last week, killing six persons, including three of his men.

    Police sources told The Nation that the hoodlums may have had military training.

    Parading some suspected kidnappers and robbers at the Command Headquater in Ikeja, Aderanti, responding to questions, said the gunmen displayed professional traits.

    He said that the police were working to get the suspects, promising that such incident would not repeat itself in Lagos.

    Aderanti said: “In as much as I do not want to comment much on the Lekki issue to avoid jeopardising our investigation, I agree with you that the perpetrators were fully prepared for that operation.

    “The types of arms that they displayed and the proficiency in terms of expertise, require that we do a thorough job to get to the root of the matter and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

    From the video footage of the incident, the police, The Nation learnt, believe that the gunmen must have military background.

    The source said: “The gun handling experience exhibited by those men was beyond just any armed robber. They were fully prepared for that exercise and were very generous with their bullets. The marksmanship they exhibited was even beyond the police.  It takes people with higher experience to have acted that way.

    “Then, the weapons are not just what you get off the shelf easily.  Those are high weapons and so, we know where to channel our investigations to. I can tell you that the police will fish them out before Easter. They cannot go unpunished for the lives they have wasted, I swear,” he said.

    A senior police officer, in a separate chat, said he was sure the gunmen have military experience.

    “I can stake my life on it. Those hoodlums have military experience. They have had something to do with the armed forces. If you see their coordination and their gun handling proficiency, even me as a senior officer I cannot match them.

    “Did you see their complete armour, they even had bullet proof vests, how many policemen have that? It would have even been better for them to just steal and go but the fact that they were so heartless as to open fire on harmless citizens, is evidence that their cup is full,” he said.

  • Abba: The strongarm police chief

    Abba: The strongarm police chief

    Although he is a lawyer, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has shown no regard for the courts since he assumed office. He has the appearance of a gentleman officer, but all he cares about is doing the bidding of those who appointed him. He has turned himself into a court of law.

    He first bared his fangs when he withdrew the security aides of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, declaring that he was no longer the Speaker having joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). He interpreted the Constitution, even though he is not a court.

    Last week, Abba showed up before the House Committee on Police Affairs to shed light on the November 20 invasion of the National Assembly when Tambuwal and other members were tear-gassed.

    The meeting, however, ended abruptly because Abba refused to acknowledge Tambuwal as Speaker in his speech, drawing the ire of the committee members.

    He described the lawmakers who climbed the gate to enter the complex as “suspected hoodlums” and blamed the security beef-up at the National Assembly on the Salvation Rally by the APC a day before.

    Abba said because of the “suspected hoodlums” who followed “Alhaji Tambuwal” into the complex, a tear gas canister “exploded” and the incident “is being investigated”.

    He said the security arrangement was going well “until when that was disrupted at the arrival of Alhaji Tambuwal”.

    Members were angry when the IGP continuously referred to the Speaker as “Alhaji Tambuwal”, expressing disdain at the manner the IGP was disrespecting the Speaker.

    Since he was appointed Acting IGP, Abba has made controversial decisions. Granted, he is playing out the script of the government controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but the manner he goes about it leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

    Many had thought that having served as the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command before he moved to the Force Headquarters as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), he would bring his gentlemanly mien to bear on the job.

    Having also served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to Maryam Abacha, wife of former military ruler Sani Abacha who died in 1998 before being promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7 on February 22, 2012, it was expected that Abba would consolidate on the good works of his predecessor.

    But, despite his academic background, including a first degree in History, and another degree in Law, in addition to attending the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) in Kuru near Jos, the Plateau State capital, many are disappointed by Abba’s disregard for the law.

    He was promoted IGP on August 1 ahead of no fewer than eight superiors and many expected him to perform his duties with a sense of humility and professionalism which youth brings. Instead, he turned himself to a court of court.

    Announcing the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security, he said: “In view of the recent defection by the Right Hon.  Aminu Waziri Tanbuwal, CFR, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress and having regard to the clear provision of section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force, has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.”

    The section states: “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall    vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if – (g) being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected; Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

    Abba ignored Tambuwal’s argument that there was a division in the PDP, resulting in a factional ‘New PDP’, which eventually merged with the APC.

    After his security aides were withdrawn, Tambuwal went to court to challenge the Federal Government’s action executed through Abba. The Speaker is seeking an order of mandamus against the IGP reinstating his security aides.

    Tambuwal is also praying for a perpetual injunction restraining the PDP and its National Chairman, Adamu Muazu; the House of Representatives; the Deputy Speaker of the House; the acting IGP; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) from taking steps to remove him as Speaker before the expiration of his tenure on June 5, next year.

    Instead of waiting for the suit to be determined, Abba stuck to his gun, insisting that Tambuwal was no longer speaker by not recognising him as such.

    Abba did not take into consideration Tambuwal’s averment before the court: “I know as a fact that all efforts to harmonise the factions of the PDP in my home state in Sokoto has failed as there are still factions in the state.

    “I informed the members of the 3rd defendant (House) whilst announcing my decision to join the New PDP faction, which merged with the 2nd plaintiff (APC) that my membership of the 2nd plaintiff was based on the circumstances in my home state.”

    IGP also ignored two different court decisions that the seats of other former members of the New PDP, who are now members of the APC cannot be declared vacant.

    Tambuwal had cited the case of the PDP and other vs. Honourable Rasak Atunwa and 20 others, in suit No: FHC/IL/CS/6/2014 delivered on June 26; as well as the case of Ibrahim Magaji Gusau and two others vs Honourable Lawal Mohammed Zyyana and 20 others, in suit No: FHC/S/CS/4/2014 delivered on July 3.

    The APC has condemned Abba’s refusal to reognise Tambuwal as Speaker. In a statement in Osogbo by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said by refusing to recognise a Speaker elected by 360 members of the House of Representatives, and a Speaker who had neither been impeached by those who elected him nor removed by a court, the police boss had thumbed his nose at the constitution.

    “As the Speaker, Tambuwal is the symbol of authority of the House and our country’s number four citizen. By saying he does not recognise him as the Speaker, the IG has also indicated he does not recognise the House of Representatives. For a man who was not elected by anybody to make this impertinent assertion about elected representatives of the people is tantamount to treason. Mr. Abba has shunned all pretences to neutrality, professionalism and decency and he is no longer fit to occupy the important office of the IG,” it said.

    The party said Abba could have been helpless, as not obeying his employers could mean losing his job.

    “The truth is that he is dancing to a drum of perfidy being beaten by his masters at the Aso Rock Villa. In the process, he has acted in contravention of his oath of office.”

    A coalition of civil rights organisations under the aegis of the “Nigerians for Survival of Democracy” expressed reservations about free and fair election next year because of the partisan role of the police and the Department of State Security (DSS), which it said “have become private security of the ruling party.”

    Tambuwal files contempt charge

    Tambuwal wants Abba committed to prison for failing to recognise him as Speaker. He filed a motion to this effect at the Federal High Court, Abuja last Thursday.

    According to the Speaker, Abba’s refusal to recognise his office when he appeared before the House Committee on November 26 was a violation of the order made by the court on November 7.

    The court had directed parties in the suit to maintain the status quo.

    Tambuwal, therefore, wants the court to direct Abba to appear “in person and show cause why he should not be committed to prison for contempt of the order of this court ordering maintenance of status quo on November 7, 2014 and/or for acting in manners and ways which showed disrespect to the court.”

    After Tambuwal’s counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), leading eight Senior Advocates and 69 other lawyers, moved the motion before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, the judge directed that it was fair that Abba be heard on the issue raised in the motion.

    He said even President Jonathan has continued to recognise and address Tambuwal in official correspondence as “Honourable Speaker,” in obedience to the court’s order of November 7. He displayed copies of such letters from the President.

    Justice Mohammed said since Abba was represented by a lawyer in the substantive case, it was fair that he should be put on notice in relation to the allegation that he disobeyed a subsisting order of the court.

    The judge, relying on the provision of Order 26 Rule 10 of the court’s Civil Procedure Rules 2009, ordered that Tambuwal should convert the ex-parte application to motion on notice and directed that Abba be served with it.

    Tambuwal hinged his fresh motion on 15 grounds, including that Abba acted in ways that showed that he had no regard for the court. He stated that despite Abba’s lawyer’s undertaking that his client would not do anything to tamper with the res (subject of litigation) in the main suit, the IGP, who is also a lawyer, has refused to obey the court’s order.

    The Speaker cited other instances where the IGP allegedly violated the court’s order, such as when he sent some armed policemen to barricade the entrance of the National Assembly, thereby denying him access to his office.

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was among several groups and individuals who have condemned the IGP’s actions. Its President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) said Abba lacked the competence to determine whether or not a provision of the Constitution has been violated.

    “That is a function reserved for the courts of law exclusively. We must state that the mere fact that Tambuwal defected from one party to the other whilst being the Speaker of the House of Representatives does not automatically strip him of his position as Speaker and the attendant protection by the Police,” NBA said.

    Former NBA President, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) said Abba’s action was unconstitutional. “It is the duty of the court to interpret the Constitution, not the police,” he said.

    Lagos-based lawyer, George Oguntade (SAN) said: “It is important to restate that the police institution should detach itself from any involvement in partisan politics. Its constitutional role and functions are clearly delineated.”

    A former NBA General Secretary, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, said: “The action of the IGP is unconstitutional, undemocratic, autocratic as he lacks not only the constitutional powers, but also the ability and capability to determine the vacancy or otherwise of the seat of the Speaker.”

    Former Lagos State House of Assembly member Babatunde Ogala said: “It is for the House members to determine that Tambuwal would no longer be their Speaker by removing him. Neither the presidency nor the police have such powers in law.”

     

  • Falana to police chief: resign

    Falana to police chief: resign

    Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has accused Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba of partisan politics, subversion of the Constitution, the Police Act and the Electoral Act.

    He also accused the police chief of persecution of House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Falana advised the police chief to resign, if he cannot work without fear or favour.

    He threatened to file a suit before a Federal High Court to determine the competence and suitability of Abba “to superintend and manage the Nigeria Police Force in the public interest, if the trend of subverting the Constitution, the Police Act and the Electoral Act by your good self and other top police officers continues unabated”.

    Falana wrote a letter yesterday to the acting IGP,titled “Illegal Policing of the Republic”.

    The erudite lawyer noted that since Abba was “appointed the Acting Inspector-General of Police by the President of the Republic on July 31, 2014, the Nigeria Police Force has been involved in partisan politics to the detriment of law and order in the country”.

    To butress his position on the matter, Falana accused the acting IGP of  causing the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security detail.

    “As if that was not enough, you decided to usurp the judicial powers of the federation which are exclusively vested in the courts by Section Six of the Constitution when you claimed that the Speaker had lost his office and seat as a federal legislator having contravened section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution. By your illegal pronouncement you disregarded section section 50 (2) (c) thereof which stipulates that the Speaker of the House of Representatives can only be removed by a resolution passed by votes on not less that two thirds majority of the members of the House”, he stated.

    The legal luminary also drew the attention of the acting IGP to two other cases of political bias recently displayed by the Police under his leadership.

    He said: “Firstly, the Osun State governorship election which took place on August 9, 2014 was almost marred by the Police and other security forces which arrested and detained over 700 leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Indeed, some electoral officers who were assumed to be members of the APC were also railroaded into police custody. But for the personal intervention of Professor Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the said electoral officers would not have been released.

    “Thus, the election would have been disrupted by the police and other security forces whose duty it was to maintain law and order during the democratic exercise. However, the detained APC leaders who were released after the election have not been charged to court for breaching the provisions of the Electoral Act or any other law whatsoever.

    “Secondly, Mr. Joseph Mbu, the controversial Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7 of the Nigeria Poilice Force announced a ban on any rally demanding for #bringbackourgirls within the federal capital territory.

    “The ban was designed to assuage the feelings of some officials of the Federal Government who are embarrassed by being reminded of their constitutional duty of rescuing the over 200 Chibok girls who were abducted six months ago by the nihilist Boko Haram sect.

    “In a judgment delivered last week, the Federal Capital Territory High Court declared the ban illegal, null and void on the grounds that it constituted an infringement of the fundamental rights of the patriotic campaigners to freedom of assembly and expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

    “In spite of the judicial indictment, you have not deemed it fit to call Mr. Mbu to order for the reckless abuse of police powers.

    “Thirdly, you caused the security detail of Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives to be withdrawn last week on the grounds that he had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. As if that was not enough, you decided to usurp the judicial powers of the federation which are exclusively vested in the courts by Section 6 of the Constitution when you claimed that the Speaker had lost his office and seat as a federal legislator, having contravened Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution. By your illegal pronouncement, you disregarded Section 50 (2) (c) thereof which stipulates that the Speaker of the House of Representatives can only be removed by a resolution passed by votes of not less than two thirds majority of the members of the House.”

    He stressed that the actions and utterances of the IGP in the circumstance have exposed the police to unwarranted ridicule.

    Falana said:  “Nigerians are not unaware of the fact that when the Ondo State legislators elected on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) defected to the PDP last month, your office did not declare their seats vacant.

    “In particular, you did not withdraw the security detail of Honourable Jumoke Akindele, the Speaker, who led her colleagues to dump the LP for the PDP. In the same vein, Honourable Ahmadu Fintiri, the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly and his colleagues who defected from the PDP to the APC and have since returned to PDP. You did not have cause to declare their seats vacant. Neither have you withdrawn the security detail of Honourable Fintiri.

    “Thus, by subjecting Honourable Aminu Tambuwal to selective persecution on grounds that he defected from the ruling party, you violated his fundamental right to freedom from discrimination.

    Falana described the actions of the IGP as a breach of Section 42 (1) of the Constitution and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to subject any citizen of Nigeria of a political opinion to disabilities, deprivation and restrictions to which other citizens who hold alternative views or opinions are not made subject.”

    He pointed out that since the security aides of other Speakers who defected from the APC and LP to the PDP have not been withdrawn, those of Tambuwal were illegally withdrawn. In the light of this, the activist lawyer called for immediate restoration of Tambuwal’s security aides.

    “They ought to be restored without any further delay. From the information at my disposal, your harassment of the Speaker was instigated by the Presidency. But having regard to section 215 (3) of the Constitution which enjoins you to carry out the ‘lawful directive’ of the President of the Republic with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order the actions taken on the Speaker are illegal and unconstitutional in every material particular.

    “Therefore, you should withdraw your pronouncement on the office and seat of Honourable Aminu Tambuwal and advise the ruling party to seek redress in the Federal High Court on the constitutional implications of the defection. Furthermore, unless he is removed by his colleagues in the House of Representatives or by a competent court in the land, Honourable Tambuwal remains the Speaker of the House.

    “Neither the police nor any other agency of the Federal Government can be allowed to resort to self help on the matter. As law and order in the country cannot be maintained by a compromised police institution, you may want to resign your appointment if you are not prepared to discharge your onerous constitutional responsibilities without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

    “Before making up your mind, may I remind you of the eternal injunction of the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney-General of the Federation v Atiku Abubakar (2007) 10 NWLR (pt 1041) 1 at 183. As the undisguised bias of both the INEC and the police could not be justified over the illegal removal of the Vice-President for defecting from the ruling party to one of the opposition political parties the apex court held inter alia:”Having regard to the nature of the function which the Nigeria Police Force also performs, that body must also insulate itself such that impartiality and fairness may at all times be ascribed to it.

    “A situation where both of them ( the Inspector-General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC) appeal in the instant case is very much in bad taste. They have both thrown the quality of impartiality and fairness which they must possess to the winds. Their acts are capable of eroding the public confidence in them. Unknown to them, they may be said, by the public, to be biased and therefore not worthy to be regarded as impartial umpires. This trend must not repeat itself for the good of the nation”, Falana said.

     

  • Group urges new police chief

    Group urges new police chief

    The new Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has been urged to be a team player by carrying along all stakeholders to tackle security challenges in the country.

    The Police Assistance Committee (PAC), which gave the advice while hailing the emergence of the police chief, also assured him of its total support.

    The committee’s Director General, Dr. Martins Oni, said the Abba is a tested officer who has distinguished himself in various capacities in the force, adding: “We are confident that Abba will bring to the fore, the wealth of experience he has garnered over the years, to build on the achievements of his predecessor and thus improve the fortunes of the force by injecting new ideas at confronting the plethora of security challenges threatening the corporate existence of the nation”

    The group expressed the hope that his tenure would ensure robust relationship with the members of other security agencies, the public and the corporate bodies to fight the festering insurgency in the country.