The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Police

  • Man commits suicide in Kano State

    A middle-age man simply identified as Nura on Thursday committed a suicide at Tsamiya Babba village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

    Mr Magaji Majiya, the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kano.

    Majiya said that the incident happened in the early hours of Thursday.

    He said the Village Head of the community sent a distress call to the Police Station in Gezawa that somebody had hanged himself on tree.

    According to him, the deceased had before taking his own life, stripped himself and wrote his name “Nura’’ on a piece of paper.

    Accoring to the police spokesman, Nura committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree, after stripping himself of his clothes.

    He said on reaching the scene of the incident, the police found his lifeless body dangling on the tree.

    “The police untied him, lowered him down and rushed him to the nearby hospital where he was certified dead on arrival by doctors at the hospital.’’

    He said the corpse had been deposited at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano city.

    Majiya added that the police had commenced investigation into the matter to establish the cause of the unfortunate incident.

     

  • Lack of funds hampering police fight against violent crimes, says IGP

    Lack of funds hampering police fight against violent crimes, says IGP

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has lamented that poor budget allocation was hampering the fight against violent crimes in the country.
    The Inspector General made the disclosure in Abuja when the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs led by its Chairman, Haliru DaudaJika visited the Force headquarters for oversight function.
    Lamenting the poor allocation, he said: “the Capital budget is a far cry from the actual requirement to address security challenges especially violent crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and to ensure the maintenance of law and order.”
    He noted that “the annual budgetary allocation to the Force especially with regards to capital projects and overhead cost, do not reflect the enormous size, scope of responsibility and basic infrastructural requirements of the Force.”
    Highlighting the budget performance for 2016, the IG said: “arising from the limitations of funding occasioned by the budgetary constraints, most of the requirements that would enable the Force perform are never met.
    “For instance, against a capital budget estimate of N331bn proposed for the 2016 fiscal year, the Force was given an envelope of N16.1bn, while in respect of overhead cost, N9.25 was appropriated as against proposal of N90.6bn.
    “Allocations to the Force are grossly inadequate despite the increasing security challenges it has to contend with. It will be observed that in 2016, only 25% of the appropriated fund was actually released leaving a whooping sum of N21,080,454,000 not released as at 31stDecember 2016. 
    Continuing, Idris said: “The amount released and cash-backed in September, 2016 is being utilized for the payment of completed and ongoing projects. Out of N16,107,272,000 appropriated for Capital projects, only the sum of N4,026,818,000 (25%) was released and cash-backed by the end of the year 2016.
    “The non-release of appropriated capital budget has inhibited the Force from accomplishing its set objective of providing necessary tools and infrastructure for the enhancement of its operational capacity and capability”.
    He further lamented that the meager funds released has made budget planning and execution difficult.
    To however ensure internal security, the Force leadership said the Force needs to procure aircrafts, vehicles, arms and ammunition and other tools.
    According to him: “In order to carry out our statutory responsibilities, requisite operational tools and infrastructure are indispensable. Such tools include vehicles, arms and ammunition, aircraft, intelligence and surveillance equipment, bomb disposal and a host of others. 
    Earlier, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris applauded the Nigeria Police for keying-in to the IPPIS and other Public Finance Reforms initiatives being implemented by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
    The AGF was particularly pleased that the Police has now been fully integrated  into the TSA  and is currently being enrolled on the IPPIS platform, which according to him will help to effectively manage the wage burden of the government.
    Meanwhile, the IG has also inaugurated a committee responsible for the construction of General and Referral hospital for the Nigeria Police Force.
    The Committee which will be headed by AIG Kaumi Ahmadu  is expected to interface with partners that will deliver on the project.

     

  • Stop police from prosecuting criminal cases—Chief Judge

    Stop police from prosecuting criminal cases—Chief Judge

    The Chief Judge of Delta, Justice Marshall Umukoro, has advised that the police be stripped of their  power to prosecute criminal cases.

    Umukoro gave the advice in a lecture he delivered at the 2017 Aquinas Day Colloquium of Dominican Institute in Ibadan on Tuesday.

    He said that the measure would reduce the number of accused persons awaiting trial while decongesting prisons.

    The title of the lecture  was “The Judiciary and the Criminal Justice System: Odds and Ends.’’

    The chief judge said that the police have the challenge of lack of technical know how to handle the job of prosecutors.

    “Some police prosecutors who are not lawyers and are new on the job have no mastery of the game of prosecution.

    “ This situation puts the magistrates in the position to play the role of assistants to the prosecutor.

    “Some magistrates have, in the process, descended to the arena of conflict, thereby hampering the justice of the case.

    “Another challenge of a police prosecutor is that the police force is a federal institution, and as such, not answerable to state institutions like the state Attorney-General and Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    “This affects the transfer of case files between the IPO and the office of the state attorney-general.

    “After arraignment by the police and remand by the magistrates, sometimes, the original case file is never kept in the court’s custody for transmission to the office of the attorney-general.

    “ This causes delays in rendering legal advice by the DPP and leads to having more accused persons in prison custody awaiting trial,’’ Umukoro said.

    He said that a police prosecutor,  who is not a lawyer, would not respond to legal issues and might not appreciate the legal argument.

    The chief justice said that the defence counsel often take advantage of this to defeat the prosecutor.

    He suggested that a single and unified prosecutorial agency be established in the country, pointing out that prosecutorial powers in the nation were in the hands of many agencies.

    Umukoro said that the country operates an adversarial system of adjudication and should borrow a leaf from the United Kingdom, particularly England and Wales, which established the Crow prosecution service.

    “The abuse of prosecutorial powers,  especially by the police,  will be best curtailed if the police are stripped of that power,” he added.

  • Police arrest more NTIC kidnap suspects, recover N3m

    Police arrest more NTIC kidnap suspects, recover N3m

    Operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Tuesday arrested two more suspects in connection with the kidnap of three pupils and five officials of Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) Ogun.

    The Nation gathered that detectives also recovered N3million from the suspects identified as Egbasimokumo Ayeomi, 24, and Super Alex, 21, both Ondo state indigenes.

    They were said to have been apprehended at Ikorodu, a Lagos district, while trying to escape to Ondo State.

    According to a source, the suspects confessed to have participated in several other kidnappings within Lagos and Ogun states.

    He said they were giving useful and valid information to the police, adding that their confessions would assist in rounding up other suspects.

  • Police seal Ondo House of Assembly over crisis

    Police seal Ondo House of Assembly over crisis

    •APC to EFCC: Probe Assembly

    The police yesterday sealed the Ondo State House of Assembly to prevent a fracas between Malachi Coker and Jumoke Akindele factions, laying claim to the speakership.
    The Coker faction removed Ms. Akindele and other principal officers last Friday for alleged N15million fraud.
    She insisted she remains speaker because her removal does not meet the constitutional requirement.
    The N15million was allegedly found in the possession of the Assembly’s paymaster, Makanjuola Adesina, who told lawmakers that it was withdrawn on Ms Akindele’s instruction for a project which he failed to disclose.
    It was gathered that lawmakers loyal to Coker entered the Assembly about 7am.
    Coker sat on the speaker’s seat to begin proceedings but the Akindele faction stormed the Assembly and the embattled speaker challenged Coker.
    He was said to have told her that she is no longer speaker.
    This led to an altercation between the factions.
    A team of policemen led by the Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, who were in the Assembly to prevent breakdown of law, ordered the lawmakers and workers to leave the Assembly immediately.
    She told them that the Assembly would be opened when they are ready to allow peace reign.
    The lawmakers left in groups. Akindele’s camp went to the home of her deputy, Fatai Olotu, where they addressed reporters.
    Coker’s team addressed reporters at a hotel in Akure, the state capital.
    Ogundeji Iroju and Acting Majority Leader George Olumide insisted that the removal stands.
    Iroju said: “We got information that the minority group led by the erstwhile speaker wanted to sit.
    “We went there and took the mace, which is in our possesion. They cannot seat without the mace because it is a symbol of authority.
    “We told them they cannot seat because we have removed them. Akindele, Olotu and former Majority Leader Ifedayo Akinsoyinu have been suspended.”
    Iroju clarified that 20 lawmakers signed the impeachment notice but only 14 sat to remove the Speaker.
    He alleged that the remaining six went back to Akindele’s faction.
    He listed their names as Abayomi Akinruntan; Siji Akindiose; Tuyi Akintimehin; Ade Adeniyi, Fajulu Abimbola and Towase Kuti.
    Iroju called on forensic experts to authenticate the genuineness of the signatures.
    He warned banks to stop any business with the Akindele faction and urged the police commissioner to withdraw all her security details.
    Olumide said: “We got information that N11million was paid into our accounts for our cars and we also heard that N12.5million was given to us for constituency projects. They are lies. We have not receive any money from the government for any project since inception.
    “They said the paymaster was dehumanised and molested, it is a lie. He was caught with the money and he confessed that he was sent by the erstwhile speaker.
    “Was there any plenary resolution before the approval of the N15million and the former spokesman of the house who said the money was approved for a project and we now asked
    Akindiose, who addressed reporters on behalf of Akindele’s camp, accused some fifth columnists of fueling the crisis.
    He insisted the other faction did not have the required number to carry out the impeachment.
    He claimed that 14 of them are still with the embattled speaker but called for reconciliation among members.
    He insisted that the N15million was meant for a project but because he is not a member of the committee, he did not know the type of project the money was meant for.
    Akindiose noted that the lawmaker, who instigated the crisis was only angry because he was not a member of the committee.
    According to him, “Impeachment is a long process. You must give the other side a fair hearing.
    “We are not comfortable with the closure of the Assembly. Some people are hell bent on stopping the seamless transition going on in the state.”
    Akindiose said the crisis will soon be resolved, insisting that it was just a family affair.
    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest Akindele, Olotu and former Majority Leader Ifedayo Akinsoyinu for alleged fraud.
    In a statement by its spokesman, AbayomiAdesanya, said: “This Assembly is a rubber stamp House. Lawmakers endorse matter brought before them without due process.
    “The former speaker is a stooge of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, thereby converting the Assembly to a subsidiary of the Governor’s Office.
    “It is noteworthy that these lawmakers can summon courage to change their leadership, which had remained untouchable all along. This is commendable.
    “We appeal to the new leadership to prevent last minutes looting of the state’s treasury and properties through awards of phony contracts with massive payment of mobilisation feeswithout budgetary allocation.
    “We urge them to begin an impeachment process against the governor, going by his various atrocities against the people in the last eight years,” he said.

  • Police quiz Ondo lawmakers

    Police quiz Ondo lawmakers

    The police in Ondo State have quizzed House of Assembly “Deputy Speaker” Ayo Arowele.

    Also invited for questioning were the Clerk and some senior officials  of the Assembly.

    It was learnt the police were in search of the mace allegedly taken by Arowele.

    The police were ordered to recover the mace. A source said Arowele was interrogated for several hours and he reportedly promised to return the mace.

    It was gathered Governor Olusegun Mimiko met with some lawmakers on how to resolve the crisis.

    Sources said embattled Speaker Jumoke Akindele and her deputy, Fatai Olotu, attended the meeting.

    Although details were not known, it was learnt that no resolution was reached.

    A member of the faction that purportedly sacked Akindele and others, Deji Iroju, yesterday said there was no going back on their removal.

    Iroju, a former commissioner, quoted Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution that emphasised on 2/3 majority to carry out impeachment of any officer.

    Speaking on Adaba FM radio programme, Iroju, who represents Odigbo, said 20 members signed the impeachment paper and 14 lawmakers were present during the impeachment, adding that the action was final.

    He accused the House leadership of financial misappropriation.

  • Reps query police over officers’ deaths, missing ammunition

    Reps query police over officers’ deaths, missing ammunition

    The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has expressed dissatisfaction over the non-reportage/ late reportage of deaths of police officers by the police hierarchy.

    The committee, led by Kingsley Chinda, at an investigative hearing, frowned at the non- reportage of arms and ammunitions carted away from police personnel during attacks reportedly caused by religious bigots, bandits, hoodlums and militants.

    The lawmakers were not pleased that the police echelon reported the deaths and missing arms late, thereby delaying the required actions.

    The committee’s hearing followed the report of Auditor General of the Federation (AGF) for the year ended December 31, 2013, which chronicled the police infractions.

    Considering the reports, the committee members discovered that after the police officers were killed, various arms and ammunitions were stolen by the bandits.

    Failure to promptly report the loss of the arms to the appropriate authorities for immediate action was an act of negligence by the police, the committee members said.

    The lawmakers noted that interest shown in the matter in 2013 by the AGF prompted the police to generate reports on some of the occurrences that took place between 2009 and 2012.

    No fewer than 128 police officers lost their lives to activities of criminals in various parts of the country in the last three months as at November 2016, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said.

    Assistant Inspector General, Accounts and Budgets Abdul Salami Iyaji, who represented the IGP to defend the allegations in the report, blamed the delay by the police on technical problems.

    “It occurs sometimes that equipment meant to transmit signals could fail us,” he told the lawmakers.

    According to him, an occurrence in 2009 was truly not reported promptly by the police until 2013.

    On the loss of ammunition, he said officers found to be negligent in the handling of arms were usually sanctioned.

    The committee chairman, in his ruling fixed February7, 2017 for continuation of hearings.

  • Court restrains police from arresting community leader

    A Federal High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, presided over by Justice J. Aneke, has restrained the Benue State Command of the Nigerian Police from arresting and detaining a Gboko-based community leader, Prince Wilfred Torkuma Ahambe.

    The judge gave the directive on Wednesday the 25/1/2017.

    Mr. Ahambe’s counsel, Barr. Samson Luga, had earlier filed an application to enforce the fundamental rights of his client on the grounds that the police in Gboko had been harassing the applicant and members of his family without reason.

    The lawyer contended that the police had arrested and detained the applicant and members of his family at different times last year.

  • Police arraign UNILAG student for alleged obtaining under false pretences

    A 32-year-old undergraduate, John Udoka, on Friday appeared in an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly obtaining N2.6 million under false pretences.

    Udoka of the Department of Marine Science, University of Lagos, was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on issuing a dud cheque, stealing and obtaining under false pretences.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Jimah Iseghede, said that the offences were committed on Sept. 29, 2015 at the University of Lagos Campus, Akoka.

    Iseghede said the accused had fraudulently obtained N2.6 million from Bolanle Ogundana under the pretence of supplying her 20 tonnes of sharp sand which he failed to do since 2015.

    He said the accused had gone ahead to issue a Guaranty Trust Bank dud cheque with No. 70304419 and had also gone to harass the complainant at her construction site.

    Iseghede said the offences contravened sections 166, 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The Magistrate, Mrs K.A. Ariyo, admitted the accused to a bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Ariyo said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, and adjourned the case till Feb. 15 for mention. (NAN)

  • Enugu police celebrate officer’s nuptial

    The entire Enugu State Police Command was agog as one of their female officers tied the nuptial knots with her Malaysian-based heartthrob. One peculiar aspect of the marriage was that the lovebirds met for the first time through the social media. To crown it all it is a kind of handshake across the Niger marriage, the bride coming from Ekiti State, and the groom from Ebonyi.

    Bukola Mercy Olagunju, a police corporal serving in Enugu met Ejike Nweke in the Badoo social internet media. The couple did not contemplate marriage. But one thing led to another and the result is that the two found out they were compatible as husband and wife, hence the intensity of the love between them.

    The marriage which was solemnised at the Celestial Church of Christ, Eastern Diocesan Headquarters, New Jerusalem Parish, Garriki Awkunanaw, Enugu was so important and special that the Spiritual Head of the Celestial Church world wide, Rt. Rev. (Pro) Gabriel Beni Omoge had to come down personally from Lagos to conduct the marriage.

    Omoge was assisted by the head of diocese, Enugu/Ebonyi states, Most Sup. Evang. Gabriel Daramoka and the arch diocese head of Enugu/Ebonyi states, Most Sup. Evang. Paul Ayedu.

    The moderate church building was filled to capacity by the relations and friends of the couple who mostly came from Ekiti and Ebonyi states as well as far away Malayasia. It was gyration all through the service as the church band rendered some Igbo and Yoruba tunes.

    Bukola’s colleagues were in their best adorning the traditional red upon black ceremonial police outfit, to usher in and usher out the couple into and from the church.

    The reception which was held one of Enugu’s top events centre was turned to a competition between the two families of the couple of who will outdo each other. The Police band entertained while the spokesman of the Enugu state police command, Ebere Amaraizu was on hand to represent the state police commissioner.

    “I am the happiest woman on earth today,” Bukola told Southeast Report. “In fact what started like a joke has ended up in something very serious today. Glory be to God that I’m married to the man I love,” she added.

    And Ejike said: “Today is not only the happiest day in my life but the most remarkable. Today I have married the woman of my dream and with God on our side. We are going to make it together till death parts us.”