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Tag: Police

  • Police urge court to fine Evans’ lawyer N300,000

    Police urge court to fine Evans’ lawyer N300,000

    The police have urged a Lagos Federal High Court to compel suspected kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans’ counsel Olukoya Ogungbeje to pay N300,000 as “punitive costs” for alleged wrongful service.

    Evans is seeking N300million as damages from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and others for alleged wrongful detention.

    The others are the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos State and Lagos State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    The matter could not go on before Justice Abdulaziz Anka on July 20 because of Ogungbeje’s failure to comply with a July 13 order to pay the police N20,000 costs.

    But, yesterday, Ogungbeje told Justice Anka that the costs were paid on August 10.

    He said he had complied with the court’s order to serve the respondents, adding that the matter was ripe for hearing.

    But counsel to the CP and SARS, Emmanuel Eze, opposed him, saying the IGP’s and NPF’s lawyers were absent because Ogungbeje failed to serve them in Abuja as directed by the judge.

    He said: “It is not true that the matter is ripe for hearing. This is a fundamental rights enforcement suit brought by the applicant.

    “He has not got the leave of court for the matter to be heard during vacation. That is the condition precedent to hearing any matter during vacation.”

    Relying on Section 215 of the Constitution and Order 5 Rule 8 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009, Eze argued that the CP and the IGP were distinct personalities.

    Ogungbeje, he said, only served the CP at Alagbon in Lagos but had yet to serve the IGP in Abuja.

    He said: “Our submission is that he has not taken steps to clothe this court with jurisdiction to hear this case.”

    Eze added: “…Since Ogungbeje has refused to do the right thing, we are asking the court for costs of N300,000.”

    But, Ogungbeje insisted that the IGP and the NPF were served on June 29 at the addresses contained on the originating motion, adding that the proof of service was in the court’s file.

    “Secondly, he said, “Order 5 Rule 2 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules has made it clear that service on the respondents’ agents will amount to personal service on respondents.”

    He argued that since Eze announced appearance for only the CP and SARS, he had no locus to speak for the IGP and the police.

     

     

     

     

    “He has no mouth to speak for the first and second respondents when there is proof of service.

    “Lastly, this proceeding is sui generis (unique). As we speak, the applicant (Evans) is still in detention.”

    He urged the court to discountenance Eze’s application for N300,000 costs.

    Justice Anka adjourned till today for ruling.

    In the suit, Evans is seeking an order that the police should charge him to court immediately or release him on bail.

    Ogungbeje argued that Evans’ detention since June 10, without being charged to court was a violation of his fundamental rights enshrined in Sections 35 (1) (c) (3) (4) (5) (a) (b) and 36 of the Constitution.

  • Police seek N.3m cost against Evans’ lawyer

    Police seek N.3m cost against Evans’ lawyer

    Police on Tuesday asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to compel counsel to suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, to pay a punitive cost of N300,000 for alleged wrongful service.

    Evans, through Ogungbeje, has filed a N300million fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), alleging wrongful detention.

    Joined as respondents in the suit are the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Commissioner of Police in Lagos  and the Lagos State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) as second, third and fourth respondents respectively.

    The suit was stalled before Justice Abdulaziz Anka at the last hearing on July 20, following Ogungbeje’s failure to comply with a July 13 order to pay the police N20,000 as costs.

    However, at the commencement of proceedings on Tuesday, Ogungbeje informed Justice Anka that the costs were paid on August 10.

    The counsel said he had complied with the court’s order to serve the respondents and that the matter was ripe for hearing.

    But counsel to the police commissioner and SARS, Emmanuel Eze, opposed him.

    Eze, who explained the absence of counsel to the IGP and NPF, argued that Ogungbeje failed to serve them in Abuja as directed by the judge.

    He said: “It is not true that the matter is ripe for hearing. This is a fundamental rights enforcement suit brought by the applicant.

    “He has not got the leave of court for the matter to be heard during vacation. That is the condition precedent to hearing any matter during vacation.”

    Relying on Section 215 of the Constitution and Order 5 Rule 8 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009, Eze argued that the Lagos police commissioner and the IGP were distinct personalities.

    Ogungbeje, he stated, had only served the police commissioner at Alagbon in Lagos but had yet to serve the IGP in Abuja.

    He added: “Our submission is that he has not taken steps to clothe this court with jurisdiction to hear this case.”

    “Since Ogungbeje has refused to do the right thing, we are asking the court for costs of N300, 000.”

    But countering him, Ogungbeje maintained that the IGP and NPF were served on June 29 at the addresses contained on the originating motion and the proof of service was in the court’s file.

    Justice Anka adjourned the matter till Wednesday for ruling.

  • Police train 80 on prosecution, investigation

    The Police yesterday began a two-day training programme for 80 of its personnel as part of efforts to boost their capacity.

    The training, which is in collaboration with Bastion Chambers, would focus on prosecution and investigation to ensure effective service delivery.

    Declaring the training open, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris said it would enhance the performances of police prosecutors and investigators in legal practices.

    The IG, who was represented Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Training, Emmanuel Inyang, said the workshop with the theme: “Train the trainer”, would equip officers with skills which they would in turn transfer to their respective units with a view of training other officers under them.

    He said: “We believe that training and development are required to enable staff to work toward taking the organisation to its expected destination.

    “Police training, which shall be based on the fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights shall be developed in accordance with the objectives of the police.

    “This programme will be in different phases and this is just the first phase. I assure you that we are very much committed to the development of our officers, who are always instrumental on the field. We will continue this and ensure the best for our officers,” he said.

    On the need for the training, the representative of the Bastion Chambers, Mohammed Nakordi, said the training was aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the police in criminal prosecution.

    Nakordi, who said the police lost most of their cases in courts, attributed the loss to inadequate training on legal skills.

    He, however, said the training would reduce the number of lost cases.

  • Police parade arms dealer, one chance gang

    Police parade arms dealer, one chance gang

    •I make charms for kidnappers, says herbalist

    The police yesterday paraded a 21-year-old man, Sadiq Yakubu, for alleged armed robbery and arms dealing. Also paraded were a herbalist Awokoya Ishau, 32, who specialised in preparing charms for kidnappers in Lagos and Ogun states and Taiye Momoh, 33, for driving a three-man one chance robbery gang bus.

    Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni paraded the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja.

    Yakubu aka Yankees told reporters that he usually bought guns from Cotonou, Benin Republic to sell to armed robbers in Lagos.

    According to him, he made N50,000 from the illicit trade which he said he did at least six times.

    He said his gang usually operated between Okokomaiko and Isashi under the pretence of waiting for buses at bus stops

    Once a bus stopped, he said, they would pounce on passengers and rob them of their belongings.

    Yakubu, who claimed he lost three guns to the police during foiled operations, said other robbers came to him for guns because he could easily smuggle them into the country from Cotonou.

    The suspect said: “I bought the guns for myself, other members of my gang and members of other gangs who know what I do. I started the business last year when I discovered it was more expensive to rent a gun than have a personal one.

    “We operate at Iyana-Isashi, Igbo-Elerin and Okokomaiko area of Lagos. At night we attack vehicles at Iyana-Isashi during traffic, dispossess passengers of cash and telephones. We operate with Okada. Mohammed introduced me to robbery. My operational name is Yankees. Sometimes I make up to N50,000 from selling guns.”

    Ishau, who is based in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, was arrested by the Lagos State Anti-Kidnapping Squad following the abduction of two Phillipino expatriates, Jamie Larcar and Mario Maglundo.

    The victims, who work with Mateco Industry West Africa Limited, were detained for nine days and released after a N4million ransom was paid.

    Ishau, who was  paraded alongside Ogunjobi Seun alias Apa and Yinka Adebanjo aka Esho, said the gang paid him N200,000 for the charms and for housing the victims.

    According to him, the gang was responsible for the kidnap of three Indians, who were released after a N10million ransom was paid.

    He said: “It was Yinka who introduced me to the gang. He first came to me for some protective charms. That was two months ago. He said he often travelled with his boss on distant journeys and he needed some protection. I made some charms for him.

    “He came back few weeks later with other members of his gang. I also made some charms for them. We became friends. One day Yinka called to say that he was coming to my place with his gang and two visitors. Initially, I never knew that the two persons he claimed to be their visitors were kidnapped. I got to know this on July 5, when the gang arrived my house with two Phillipinos.

    “On July 9, the gang came back with a bag containing some money. I don’t know the actual amount but they gave me N200,000.”

    Adebanjo, the company’s driver, said he provided the information that led to the expatriates’ kidnap.

    He said: “I am a driver in a construction company where the Phillipinos work. I was attached to them by the company’s management. By virtue of the fact that I drive them around, I knew their movement. I provided the gang with information they used to pick them. I got N400,000 as my share of the N4million ransom.”

    Owoseni said the suspects were also members of a ritualist gang.

    He said they pretended to be members of a vigilante group on the lookout for Badoo members at Ikorodu to kidnap the Phillipinos.

    Owoseni said: “They ordered the driver who is also their member to come down from the car. They asked him to open the boot of the vehicle. While the driver pretended as if he was rummaging the boot of the car, another member of the gang took over the driver’s seat and zoomed off with the Phillipinos still inside.

    “They took the victims to the house of the herbalist in Iperu, where they were kept for nine days. The victims were released on August 4, after collecting the sum of N4million as ransom. While they held onto the victims, the suspects removed their sim cards from their phones and replaced them.

    “Detectives from the Anti-kidnapping unit of the command were able to track them to their different hideouts from where they were arrested. Charms, a locally made pistol and a wooden box were recovered from the suspects.”

    On Momoh, Owoseni said the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) got a distress call that the gang was operating on Oshodi-Mile 12 route.

    Two of the suspects, he said, escaped; their driver was arrested with one locally made short gun.

    Momoh told reporters: “I was doing car wash in Lagos before I joined the one chance armed robbery gang.

    “I was getting N1,200 daily in my car wash work until I met a friend named ‘Kuteye’ and he lured me into one chance job. I decided to continue with one chance work because of the huge money I used to get in every operation. In the first operation, I got N8,000. The second operation N8,000, third operation, N14,000, fourth operation, N4,800 and fifth operation, N6,000.

    “We are always afraid of collecting handsets (phones) because of the trouble we used to encounter whenever police start tracking victims’ phones. However, we have collected about five handsets since we started operation. I was arrested on Friday when police stopped us. My two colleagues ran away. I could have run away if I knew on time that the people pursuing us are policemen. Though I have participated in five operations I do not have anything to show for it.”

    Owoseni said efforts were on to get those at large.

  • Police attack on anti-Buhari protesters unconstitutional – Falana

    Police attack on anti-Buhari protesters unconstitutional – Falana

    Lawyer-turned rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), on Monday described last week’s attack on anti-Buhari demonstrators as illegal and unconstitutional.

    In a statement titled: “On duty of Police to provide security for all protesters” issued in Lagos, Falana said “by providing “adequate security” for the pro-Buhari demonstrators while harassing the anti –Buhari protesters,” the police had violated Section 42 of the Constitution which prohibited discrimination on grounds of political opinion.

    “Since the role of the Nigeria Police Force has been limited to the provision of ‘adequate security’ for demonstrators the violent attack on the peaceful rally of the ‘Our Mumu Don Do’ group by the police in Abuja last week is completely illegal and unconstitutional,” he contended.

    He asked the police to apologize to the members of “Our Mumu Don Do” group stressing that “the violent disruption of the anti-Buhari rally ought to have embarrassed President Buhari who had advised late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in a similar situation, to step aside as he could no longer discharge the duties and functions of his office.”

    Falana listed other protests in which President Buhari participated before becoming President to include that of November 23, 2014 in which he led All Progressive Congress (APC) leaders, including APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, thousands of party supporters on Boko Haram insurgence and another protest he led alongside the late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu allegedly against the inefficiency of ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

    The statement said: “On the 22nd day of September 2003 the police disrupted the rally convened by the defunct All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) to protest the rigging of the 2003 general election. The police authorities justified the disruption by claiming that the organizers of the rally did not obtain a police permit. Completely aggrieved by the action of the police Gen. Mohammadu Buhari and other leaders of the ANPP instructed our law firm to sue the Inspector-General of Police to justify the legal validity of asking for police permit before protesting against the government.

    “In a suit filed at the Federal High Court against the Inspector-General of Police the plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the provisions of the Public Order Act relating to police permit.

    “In a well-considered judgment the learned trial judge, Chinyere J. held that police permit was inconsistent with sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The appeal filed against the judgment at the Court of Appeal by the police was dismissed. In affirming the decision of the lower court Olufunmilayo Adekeye J.C.A (as she then was) observed said “a rally or placard carrying demonstration has become a form of expression of views on current issues affecting government and the governed in a sovereign state. It is a trend recognized and deeply entrenched in the system of governance in civilized countries. It will not only be primitive but also retrogressive if Nigeria continues to require a pass to hold a rally. We must borrow a leaf from those who have trekked the rugged path of democracy and are now reaping the dividend of their experience.”

    “In line with the epochal judgment of the Court of Appeal and the struggle for the expansion of the democratic space the National Assembly was compelled to amend the Electoral Act to facilitate the enjoyment of the fundamental right to freedoms of assembly and expression.

    “Thus, section 94 (4) of the Electoral Amendment Act, 2015 stipulates that ‘Notwithstanding any provision in the Police Act, the Public Order and any regulation made thereunder or any other law to the contrary, the role of the Nigeria Police Force in political rallies, processions and meetings shall be limited to the provision of adequate security as provided in subsection 1 of this section.”

     

     

     

  • Police arrest 15 students for ‘colleague’s death’

    Jigawa State Police Command has arrested 15 students for the death of their colleague in Yankwashi Local Government, spokesman Jinjiri Abdu told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

    He said the suspects, all students of Government Science and Technical College, Karkarna, were arrested on August 8.

    Abdu said the students, aged 17 and 19, were suspected to have killed their colleague after they beat him up with sticks.

    He added that the suspects allegedly took the deceased to a bush close to the school on August 6 and beat him up about 2.30 a.m.

    ‘‘The suspects were said to have formed a disciplinary committee to deal with the deceased after they suspected him to be a homosexual.

    ‘‘So on that fateful day, they decided to deal with him by allegedly taking him to the bush and beating him up with sticks.

    ‘‘After the beating, they brought him back to school, and it was only his body that was found the following morning.

    ‘‘He was taken to hospital where he was confirmed dead,’’ Abdu said.

    He said investigation into the case has begun, adding that the suspects will soon be arraigned.

    The spokesman said the body had been handed over to his family for burial.

    NAN recalled that the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) recently arrested four students of the same school for allegedly stealing 18 mini Samsung laptops.

    The students allegedly stole the items from the college’s computer room.

    NAN also recalled that the Federal Government donated 25 laptops to the college, out of which the suspects allegedly stole 18.

  • Police nab commercial sex worker for ‘killing’ customer

    A Delta State Police Command has arrested a commercial sex worker for allegedly stabbing her customer to death.

    The victim, a married man and father of five, died following injuries sustained in a fracas at a brothel in Asaba.

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the incident, said the incident occurred at DESTAR Hotel on July 18.

    He said: “The suspect is in our custody. A day after the incident, the ‘C’ Division in Asaba carried out preliminary investigation and transferred it to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). As I speak to you, homicide detectives have begun investigation into the case to unravel what transpired between the suspect and the victim, to establish culpability.”

    The hotel was deserted following the incident. The few commercial sex workers on the premises described the incident as unfortunate, lamenting that business is at standstill.

    A sex worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, urged customers to pay agreed money to commercial sex workers.

  • Police attack on anti-Buhari protesters illegal, says Falana

    Police attack on anti-Buhari protesters illegal, says Falana

    Activist lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday described last week’s attack on anti-Buhari demonstrators as illegal and unconstitutional.

    In a statement titled: “On duty of police to provide security for all protesters”, issued in Lagos, Falana noted that “by providing adequate security” for the pro-Buhari demonstrators while harassing the anti-Buhari protesters”, the police violated section 42 of the constitution, which prohibited discrimination on grounds of political opinion.

    “Since the role of the Nigeria Police Force has been limited to the provision of ‘adequate security’ for demonstrators, the violent attack on the peaceful rally of the “our mumu don do” group by the police in Abuja last week is completely illegal and unconstitutional,” he contended.

    He asked the police to apologise to the members of “Our mumu don do” group, stressing that “the violent disruption of the anti-Buhari rally ought to have embarrassed President Muhammadu Buhari, who, he said, had advised President Shehu Yar’Adua, in a similar situation, to step aside as he could no longer discharge the duties and functions of his office”.

    Falana listed other protests in which Buhari participated before becoming President as including that of November 23, 2014, in which he led All Progressive Congress (APC) leaders, including APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun and former Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi, thousands of party supporters on Boko Haram insurgence and another protest he led alongside the late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu allegedly against the inefficiency of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    The statement said: “On the 22nd day of September 2003, the police disrupted the rally convened by the defunct All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) to protest the rigging of the 2003 general election. The police authorities justified the disruption by claiming that the organisers of the rally did not obtain a police permit. Completely aggrieved by the action of the police, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the ANPP instructed our law firm to sue the Inspector-General of Police to justify the legal validity of asking for police permit before protesting against the government.

    “In a suit filed at the Federal High Court against the Inspector-General of Police, the plaintiffs challenged the constitutionality of the provisions of the Public Order Act relating to police permit.

    “In a well-considered judgment the learned trial judge, Chinyere J. held that police permit was inconsistent with sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution and Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The appeal filed against the judgment at the Court of Appeal by the Police was dismissed. In affirming the decision of the lower court, Olufunmilayo Adekeye J.C.A (as she then was) observed said that ‘A rally or placard-carrying demonstration has become a form of expression of views on current issues affecting government and the governed in a sovereign state. It is a trend recognised and deeply entrenched in the system of governance in civilised countries – it will not only be primitive but also retrogressive if Nigeria continues to require a pass to hold a rally.”

    The lawyer, therefore, urged the police authorities to apologise to Mr. Charlie Oputa and other members of the “Our mumu don do.”

  • Police parade 70 suspects

    Edo State Police Command has paraded 70 suspected criminals arrested between July 20 and August 10.

    They were arrested for cultism, robbery, murder, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

    Items recovered from them included seven locally cut-to-size guns, one double barrel, six vehicles, charms and phones.

    Police Commissioner Haliru Gwandu said the feat was achieved through intelligence.

    He said no robbery was recorded on highways because of the deployment of armoured personnel carriers.

  • Gunmen kill Policeman, civilian in Anambra

    Gunmen kill Policeman, civilian in Anambra

    Some people suspected to be gunmen on Sunday, shot dead a policeman and a civilian near Assemblies of God Church, Oguta Road Onitsha, Anambra.

    An eyewitness said that the gunmen had stopped near the Church, adding that on sighting some policemen at the church, they opened fire on them.

    The source also said the attackers made away with the rifle of the slain policeman.

    “When the firing became too hot, the policemen abandoned their patrol vehicle and ran away for safety.

    “The gunmen moved to their patrol van and took a gun belonging to the policeman they killed,” he said.

    The eye witness said he could not identify the number of armed men involved.

    Another eyewitness said, “Gunmen on Okada (motorcycle) shot a policeman and collected his rifle.

    They also shot dead an Okada man while escaping and the passenger he was carrying was injured.

    The policeman was the one armed among his colleagues; they were providing security while church service was going on at Assemblies of God Church, Oguta road Onitsha.

    Reacting to the incident, Mr Garba Umar Commissioner of Police in Anambra confirmed the incident to journalists.

    Umar said it was not an attack on the church, adding that the gunmen took away a rifle belonging to the slain cop.

    “My men were on patrol near the church when they were attacked by some gunmen. ‘’It was not an attack on the church in the real sense of it, “he said.

    Unknown gunmen on Aug. 6 attacked worshipers at St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo council in Anambra, killing no fewer than 13 persons and injured 27.

    A Federal Government delegation,led by Sen. Chris Ngige had on Aug. 12 visited Anambra to condole the people and government of the state as well as the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi over the incident.