Colossus Gists

The Cross River Police Command on Thursday said it had arrested 28 suspected criminals who were allegedly perpetrating armed robbery, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms and others in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Austin Agbonlahor, said this in Calabar at a news briefing on the paraded suspects.

He said the police in the state planned to rid the state of criminals in line with the vision of the Nigeria Police Force nationally.

Agbonlahor said the command had its strategies which were yielding immense results in the attempt to rid the state of criminal elements.

According to the commissioner, part of the strategy was constituting police patrol teams to man strategic locations in the state and circulating emergency telephone numbers that could be contacted by the public during any incident.

He said the command was not wasting time in prosecuting criminal cases after the conclusion of investigation as it was only the courts that had the powers to prescribe punishments for criminals

On the election, the commissioner said the command had put everything necessary in place to ensure that the elections were peaceful.

“I call on everyone that has a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to go to his/her polling unit and discharge his/her civic responsibility, we have provided adequate security, if you do not have a PVC, stay away from the polling units.

“We would have security at strategic locations to enforce the “No movement” order from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Earlier, the commissioner had addressed a group of youth leaders who came to partner with the police in ensuring peaceful general elections in Cross River.

He urged the youths to go back home with the message that the police was ready to ensure peaceful elections and would look into their demands for effective policing during the elections.

(NAN)

The police command in Nasarawa State has confirmed the abduction of Alhaji Yakubu Dauda, Village Head of Sabon Gida-Barkin Kogi in Lafia Local Government Area by unidentified gunmen.

ASP Samaila Usman, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command confirmed the incident on Tuesday in Lafia.

According to him, the abductors came to the house, shot sporadically before whisking the village head away to an unknown destination.

“When the incident was reported, the Commissioner of Police Bola Longe, visited the village and directed his rescue.

“The search and rescue team comprising Police Mobile Force, Special Anti-Robbery Squad as well as local hunters and vigilante groups are combing the bushes around the area,” he said.

He said the police have also beefed up security in the area and all roads linking other villages and towns such as Assakio, Obi and Lafia.

He said the command would not relent until the victim was rescued, and the culprits arrested and brought to justice.

THE Police Service Commission said it has approved the reconstitution of the Management Team of the Nigeria Police Force based on zonal representation with effect from Monday, January, 28th, 2019.

A statement, Tuesday night by the commission’s Head, Press and Public Relation, Ikechukwu Ani, said the

“approval was the high-point of the 4th Plenary Meeting of the Commission held in Abuja on Monday and Tuesday, January 28th and 29th, 2019 and presided over by its Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu, Smith, a retired Inspector- General of Police.”

“The Commission approved the appointment of eight Deputy Inspectors-General of Police with one of them, Usman Yakubu, promoted and to proceed on terminal leave,” the statement said.

It further read:

”others are Aminchi Samaila Baraya, the most senior AIG from North East who will represent the Zone in the Management Team, Usman Tilli Abubakar, representing the North West; Abdulmajid Ali, former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, representing North Central and Fredrick Taiwo Lakanu, former AIG, Operations and until his appointment, the Force Secretary, representing the South West. He was also former CP, Imo State, and had also headed SARS, Lagos.”

“Also in the team, are Godwin C. Nwobodo, former AIG, Boarder Patrol, presently AIG, Zone 7, Abuja and former CP, Courses, at the Police Academy, POLAC, Wudil, Kano representing South East, Anthony Ogbizi Michael, former CP, Ebonyi and Delta States representing South South and Yakubu Jibrin from North Central but appointed on seniority consideration.

“The Commission also approved the retirement of seven former DIGs.

“Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Smith, charged the new Management Team to give the acting Inspector –General of Police maximum cooperation and support to move the Force forward. He pledged the guidance of the Commission to the new team and reminded them that they are coming in at a very critical time in the life of our nation.

“You must be dedicated and committed to ensuring the sustenance of our nation’s democracy. You must get prepared to confront the challenges that will come your way and also ensure that the forthcoming general elections are free, fair and credible and citizens guaranteed their freedom to choose their leaders without hindrance”.

“The approval has been conveyed to the acting Inspector-General of Police for implementation in a letter signed by the Chairman.”

The Lagos State Police Command has nabbed a notorious kidnapper, Austine Ebimiyenwei, 27, and one of his gang members, Festus Abama, who died during an exchange of fire while two escaped with bullet wounds at Agbowa Ikorodu area of the state.

The anti-kidnapping squad of the command, acting on the directive of the state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, on November 23 this year smashed a kidnappers’ syndicate at Agbowa, Ikorodu.

According to the state Spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, this led to the arrest of Ebimiyenwei, a native of Arogbo Azapa community of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo state, and the recovery of corpse of one Abama.

“The command had earlier on November 13 and 16 this year received two separate reports from one Suleiman Eniola Ajumobi and one Veronica Ewuru about the kidnapping of their daughter and their husband respectively,” he said.

Oti added that while Ajumobi reported that his daughter, 7, was kidnapped from his house in his presence, Ewuru said her husband, DSP Patrick Ewuru, a police officer attached to Force Headquarters annex at Obalende, Lagos, was kidnapped from their house at night when he went to check on the power generating set which suddenly stopped working.

According to him,

“The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N25 million from Ajumobi and N10 million from the family of Ewuru but later settled for N500, 000 for both families.”

At this point, the CP directed operatives handling the matter to play along with the kidnappers in the interest of the victims, who were still in captivity.

As soon as the releases of the two victims were secured, Oti continued that the kidnappers’ hideout at Agbowa was busted and the aforementioned kidnapper was killed in the ensuing gun battle, while Ebimiyenwei surrendered.

The suspect, however, confessed to the crime.

Oti said:

“The victims have identified both the deceased and Ebimiyenwei as those who kidnapped them. Concerted effort is being made to arrest those on the run while the suspect already in police custody will be charged to court.

“It is the hope of the CP that criminals would take a look at the crime-busting record of the command and see the futility of plying their trade in the state.”

The police on Monday in Lagos commenced a two-week training on human rights for Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) commanders nationwide to reposition the outfit.

Over 100 FSARS commanders drawn from the 36 states and Abuja were participating in the exercise.

Opening the training, Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of training, Emmanuel Inyang, said developing FSARS human capacity became necessary in view of different complaints against the outfit.

Mr Inyang warned the operatives against violation of human rights, stressing that the training was compulsory for all FSARS commanders.

He pointed out that the training was a holistic approach to enhance the performance of the commanders, team leaders and the foot soldiers of the FSARS in line with the recent presidential directive.

“FSARS was established to take charge of specific functions pertaining to crime prevention and control as well as to secure life and property.

“But their direct contact with members of the public has brought conflicts, friction and perceived human rights abuses and inherent complaints arising from the performance of their duties.

“There is no doubt that the training would provide the necessary platform for all participants, especially, the foot soldiers of FSARS to understand the necessity of imbibing human rights at their duty post and stations and identified areas of problem,” he said.

Mr Inyang noted that participants were also expected to use the skills they will acquire from the two-week training to uphold the highest level of discipline and professionalism in the discharged of their duties.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Haliru Gwandu, said the mandate of the operatives was limited to armed robbery and kidnapping, stressing that anything aside that would not be accepted.

“The current seminar on human rights is one of the critical components that will assist the FSARS to do their job, as it is also going to enrich them in the area of fundamental human rights.

“We expect them to demonstrate competence, courage, and professionalism and avoid flagrant abuse of power.

“You are also expected to demonstrate patience and maturity when dealing with members of the public. You must remain courteous and listen to all complaints and ensure fair hearing to parties in dispute.

“Rights of suspects must also be guaranteed by allowing suspects, his or her lawyers or members of civil society organizations to known the nature of the crime committed when the need arises,” he said.

Mr Gwandu, however, said all FSARS operatives must provide habitable detention facilities with adequate basic utilities like the toilet, water, electricity, bathroom, and hygienic and well-kept place.

“When a critical incident of armed robbery and kidnapping are subject of any investigation, such officers must speed up and ensure that they meet up within the timeframe as provided by the law,” he said.

Source

NAN

A lawyer who was arrested and taken away by police officers outside the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday has said he was “abducted” to prevent him from appearing in a ₦100 million suit he filed against the police.

Olukoya Ogungbeje, known for representing the alleged billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (popularly known as Evans), was arrested as he was about to enter the court premises and whisked away.

The lawyer later told COLOSSUS GISTS he was held for over four hours at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in Yaba.

Mr Ogungbeje’s client, Ibrahim Kabiru, had also been arrested by the police at the court premises days ago while waiting to appear in a fundamental rights enforcement suit he filed against the police.

The police said Mr Ogungbeje was arrested on the grounds that he was not qualified to represent Mr Kabiru because the latter had transferred his brief to another lawyer, Wole Smith.

Mr Ogungbeje said he had secured a ₦200 million judgment sum against the police for the extrajudicial killing of Mr Kabiru’s brother, Waheed.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Waheed was arrested and detained by the police during a raid in the Ikorodu area in November 2015. He has not been seen ever since.

Messrs Ogungbeje and Kabiru are also appearing as plaintiffs in a suit against the police for the forceful abduction and detention of Mr Kabiru.

Joined as respondents are the Inspector General of Police; the Nigeria Police Force; the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State; Yetunde Longe, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Panti; Effiong Asuquo, O/C legal, Panti; and Mr Smith, a senior advocate of Nigeria.

In the affidavit in support of the suit, Mr Kabiru claimed he was arrested and tortured solely because the police and its agents abhorred his decision to maintain Mr Ogungbeje as his lawyer.

Mr Kabiru accused Mr Smith of using agents of the Nigeria Police Force to harass him because he never appointed him as his lawyer and that the documents tendered in court to that effect were falsified.

He said Mr Smith was working with the police to ensure that the judgment against the Force is not enforced.

“We were about to get an order absolute to declare the respondents' judgment debtors when the sixth respondent Wole Smith showed up with an application for change of counsel claiming that I had given the brief to him.

“I never appointed the sixth respondent as my counsel. The second applicant has been my counsel from the beginning of the case against the IGP and remains my counsel.”

When contacted, Mr Smith told COLOSSUS GISTS he was out of the country and all inquiries are directed to his chamber.

Mr Kabiru said he was released on September 7 only after Mr Ogungbeje wrote a petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone II.

The judgment in the matter was delivered by Mohammed Idris who awarded the sum of ₦200 million to the family of Waheed Kabiru to be paid by the Nigerian Police Force.

Source

PREMIUM TIMES

The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal has alerted the public against the use of asbestos as ceiling in homes, saying it could cause cancer.

“Few years ago, Lagos State Government stopped the use of asbestos for ceiling because of its carcinogenic effect; we now use PVCs (plastic) in our estates and buildings.

“Asbestos ceilings are carcinogenic, it causes cancer and if you have it in your house you should try and change it,’’ he told neewsmen on Sunday in Lagos.

Lawal called for mass enlightenment on the use of asbestos in public and private buildings.

Newsmen report that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an intergovernmental agency and a part of the World Health Organization with its headquarters in Lyon, France, classifies asbestos as “carcinogenic to humans,’’ based on its ability to cause mesothelioma and cancers of the lung, larynx (voice box) and ovaries.

Lawal said the state government was exploring other alternatives and innovations that would allow for the use of cheaper available local raw materials to bring down the cost of houses.

On the Green Building Initiative, the commissioner disclosed that the state was partnering with Echostone, an international eco-friendly construction firm, to develop its affordable homes initiative.

He explained that the method ensured that a 40 per cent of carbon footprints were reduced in line with global climatic change initiatives.

According to Lawal, the partnership also ensured adoption of the Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) programme that helps developers reduce their buildings’ energy and water consumption by 20 per cent while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

The commissioner added that the state had also adopted eco-friendly water and sewage management system to improve the health and quality of lives of residents.

Lawal said carbon emissions would be reduced if building designs are targeted at proper ventilation and illumination as well as green areas for houses.

This, he noted, would reduce the use of generators and reliance on electricity to illuminate such houses during the day or hot weather.

“Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration is also in partnership with a German government institute (GZI) as well as the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing on how to reduce water and energy consumption in our estates to achieve energy efficiency in the buildings.

“We are collaborating with all the regulatory agencies on green building because it is cheaper and it help to create more jobs,’’ he said.

NAN

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested some youths from Ajegunle for allegedly burning a disused police vehicle.

A statement from the command stated that some youths from Olumokun community in Amukoko area of Ajegunle, engaged the youths of Layinka street, Ajegunle, in a free for all on the streets of the sprawling community.

”Weapons of various descriptions were freely used by the hoodlums during the clash.

”In the melee, policemen from Ajeromi Police station, Ajegunle, quickly intervened but under a strict warning from the Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, not to use their firearms.

”However, the youths of Olumokun community, Amukoko while retreating, stumbled on a disused police patrol car parked under the bridge at Layeni and set it ablaze.

”To avoid reprisals, the Commissioner of Police directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to engage the traditional heads (Bale) of the various communities in Ajegunle in dialogue to ensure that the peace in the area is no longer breached by hoodlums masquerading as youths.

”The CP warns that henceforth attempts to burn police property will be viewed as arson and the police might be forced to use maximum force to prevent that from happening.