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Tag: IG

  • Police dismiss claims of personnel to embark on strike

    Police dismiss claims of personnel to embark on strike

    The Nigeria Police Force on Monday described as fake and mischievous claims of purported plans by its personnel to embark on strike.

    The police made the clarification in a statement by the acting Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

    He said the claims, circulating in some social media handles, on plans by some personnel of the force to embark on strike from March 26, was a mischievous attempt by unscrupulous individuals.

    Adejobi said the claims was to bring the force to disrepute, misinform the public and heat up the polity.

    “It is pertinent to restate that the Nigeria Police Force is a regimented and disciplined organisation with laid down rules and guidelines for addressing grievances and in no circumstance is a strike action one of such means.

    “The men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are fully aware that a strike action or other deliberate disruption of law enforcement services by any security organisation is mutinous.

    “Personnel of the Force would not degenerate at any point to that level of disloyalty and indiscipline, as policing services are paramount and essential in the maintenance of orderliness and peace in the nation,” he said.

    Adejobi said the Inspector General of Police (IG-P), Usman Baba Alkali, was accelerating efforts to ensure full implementation of the increment of salaries and allowances proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari and approved by the Federal Executive Council.

    He said it was important to accentuate that it was the president’s initiative without any demand from the Police to direct the process of increasing salaries and allowances.

    Adejobi said the Federal Government was fully committed to the implementation of the new salary package.

    “Since the approval, the Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has issued an implementation circular.

    “The Minister of Police Affairs and the I-G have been working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to ensure the stoppage of tax deductions as directed by the President and approved by the Federal Executive Council,” he added.

    The FPRO said police officers under the leadership of the current IG-P were well motivated with the ongoing reforms, especially the provision of kits, accoutrements, body armour and the cooperative society’s housing scheme.

    He said the administration had also embarked on the renovation of training schools, upgrade of police training curriculum, procurement and deployment of technology to boost ICT-driven policing.

  • IG orders evacuation of impounded vehicles from police stations

    IG orders evacuation of impounded vehicles from police stations

    The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba, has ordered the immediate evacuation of all impounded vehicles and unregistered exhibit from police stations across the country.

    The Acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Adejobi said that the order followed the unprofessional manner the vehicles were stacked within police facilities, causing nuisance and disgusting sight.

    He said the I-G had expressed dissatisfaction over the practice of stockpiling vehicles recovered from crime scenes or those whose ownership was being contested.

    He said the situation had been made worse by stringent requirements and cumbersome processes for the rightful owners of the vehicles to reclaim them.

    ”The act will no longer be tolerated as it is tantamount to gross abuse of administrative and judicial processes,” he said.

    The spokesperson said the I-G had directed heads of police stations and formations to embark on due process to carry out the needful evaluation and release the vehicles on bond to their owners.

    He said that the directive was part of efforts by the I-G to ensure conducive working environment for police personnel and to set in motion, strategies to combat crime and criminality in the country.

    He further said that the decongestion of police stations and facilities nationwide would be of great operational advantage to the Force to effectively deliver on its policing responsibilities and giving succour to the owners of such exhibit vehicles.

    He, however, called on concerned members of the public to approach the various police formations for the recovery and claims of their vehicles, with valid proof of ownership and proper means of identification.

  • IG replaces Odunmosu with Alabi as Lagos CP

    IG replaces Odunmosu with Alabi as Lagos CP

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, has approved the redeployment of Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, to the Lagos Command, where he would take over as the state’s commissioner of police from Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Hakeem Odumosu.

    Alabi, who was the Bauchi State Police boss until his reassignment, was set to return to the Lagos Command, Ikeja, on Monday, January 24th, to continue work and strengthen the state’s security.

    Meanwhile, Baba has ordered that Odumosu, who was recently promoted to the rank of AIG, report to the Force headquarters in Abuja for redeployment.

  • IG decorates couple as Commissioners Of Police

    IG decorates couple as Commissioners Of Police

    The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has decorated Kehinde Longe and his wife, Yetunde Longe, as Commissioners of Police.

    The couple were among those promoted by the Police Service Commission (PSC) recently along with 15 other Commissioners of Police.

    Reading their citations, the Force PRO, CP Frank Mba, said the husband and wife were course mates and joined the Nigeria Police Force on the same day.

    The IGP also doctorated 22 other senior police officers, among whom were two deputy inspector-generals of police (DIGs).

    The two DIGs are DIG Zaki Ahmed and DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo.

    While DIG Zaki was promoted to cover the vacant duty post that was created as a result of the retirement of DIG Tijjani Baba who retired on October 6, 2021, DIG Kokumo will be filling the gap left by DIG David Oyebanji Folawiyo who retired on November 21 2021.

    The total number of those decorated with their new ranks were two DIGs, six assistant inspectors-generals (AIGs) and 16 commissioners of police (CPs)

  • Lawyer disagrees with IG over terrorism charge filed against Oyo Monarch, chiefs

    Lawyer disagrees with IG over terrorism charge filed against Oyo Monarch, chiefs

    Jimoh Abdulsalam, Counsel to some chiefs in Oko Community, Oyo State, on Thursday, disagreed with the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police over terrorism charge filed against his clients.

    Abdulsalam vehemently opposed to the move by counsel to the police, Orji Kalu, to arraign the defendants before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on charges bordering on terrorism.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the I-G is the applicant, Chiefs Sunday Aderinto, 87 years and Samson Ogunmola, 76 years, including Timothy Adewale Aderinto, a son to Sunday, were brought to court as defendants.

    Although the traditional ruler of Oko, Oba Solomon Akinola, was included in the 11-count charge, the monarch was not in court.
    In a charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/458/2021, Oba Akinola, Chief Jimoh Asimiyu, Chief Segun Gbadebo, Chief Oluwole Ogundeyi, Akintaro Mathew Piamo, Rafiu Ganiyu, Adejare Adeleru, Zachaeus Adeleru and others were said to be at large.

    They were accused in count one of conspiring among themselves to commit the offence on May 10, 2021 at Aagba Community in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State.

    Shortly after the three defendants were docked for arraignment, Kalu informed that the defendants had been served and he prayed the court for the charge to be read so that they could take their plea.

    However, Abdulsalam raised objection to the taking of their plea to the alleged offences.

    The lawyer predicted his objection on the validity of the charges, insisting that his clients were victims of land dispute between Oko and Aagba Communities near Ogbomoso in Surulere Local Government Area of the state.

    According to him, the matter stemmed from land dispute which has gotten through High Court, Court of Appeal and is presently at Supreme Court.

    “It was after we filed a fundamental rights enforcement that they brought this charge.

    “In this circumstance, we shall be applying to file our preliminary objection to the competency of the charge.

    “My lord, I am objecting to the plea being taken; I maintain that we are raising a serious objection to the validity of the charge,” he said.

    Abdulsalam, who challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter, also argued that the offence was committed outside Abuja and that it was only the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) that could handle terrorism charges.

    He expressed displeasure that police coloured a communal land dispute as terrorism act, arguing that the offence did not involve criminal charge.

    “Their plea should be suspended pending the time we file our preliminary objection,” he stated.

    He said his clients, who had spent 37 days in police detention, were not properly arraigned before the court.

    Justice Egwuatu, however, told Abdulsalam that if he had any issue on jurisdiction, he should file application to the regard and join issues with the prosecution.

    The prosecution, however, did not counter the oral objection of the defence with any authority of the law.

    Kalu then applied that the defendants be transfered to a correctional centre pending the arraignment but the judge disagreed, saying since they had not been
    arraigned, he could not grant such prayer.

    Egwuatu fixed Feb. 14 for the arraignment.

    Meanwhile in an interview with counsel to the defendants shortly after the sitting, Abdulsalam debunked the allegation that Oba Akinola was at large.
    He said the traditional ruler had, at several times, honoured the police invitation on the matter.

    “The oba is always around and I can give you his phone number to talk to him,” he said

  • BBNaija’s star, Vee trade words on social media with clothing brand over botched deal

    BBNaija’s star, Vee trade words on social media with clothing brand over botched deal

    Vee, Ex-housemate of the Big Brother Nigeria (BBNaija), and Zeena & Zara Limited, a clothing brand, have engaged in a heated war of words on Instagram over a contract fallout

    The rift started on Tuesday after the reality TV star took to her Instastories to dissociate herself from the brand.

    “I am no longer associated with Zeena and Zara brand, regard every image by me shared by them as false advertising and only do business with them at your prerogative,” she wrote.

     

    In a follow-up post, Vee said Happiness Adebayo, the company’s chief executive officer (CEO), had earlier reached out to her about the deal expected to last for six months.

    She claimed that a few days after the contract began, the company’s CEO, however, described her as “someone difficult to work with,” and thereafter demanded a refund.

    The reality star said that her team had originally paid back two out of the initial 2.5 million naira — part payment made by the company — but an extra N500,000 was subtracted by her management.

    Vee also said that both parties were still in the contract termination process when the company started sending out the information to media outlets for publication.

    The reality TV star threatened legal action against the company, noting that her lawyer has already sent an email to them.

    But reacting in a series of posts, the company slammed the reality TV star cum singer, while accusing her of not keeping to her end of the deal.

    The company asked Vee to pay the balance of N1.9 million debt she is allegedly owing before considering termination of the contract.

    “Apparently Vee paid 2million out of the 2.5m she was given for the deal she refused to honor. However, the shoot including the items she took cost about 1.4million which she insisted on not paying back,” it wrote in one of the posts.

    “I mean, how can you sign a contract then refused to comply by posting the shoot done after which you decided to delete the picture of the contract signing. I believe we all understand what that means so since you couldn’t fulfill your end of the bargain, we decided to send her manager a mail to terminate the contract after 48 hours without response.

    “Now she refused to pay for the loss incurred for the shoot, not forgetting that she made away with items worth 400k including the 500k balance from the ambassadorial deal payment, all tuning to about a total of 1.9million.

    “Since she is not willing to pay for the loss incurred and the outstanding, the brand decided to use the content from the shoot done so as to minimize the loss incurred.

    “Veeiye, please note that since you have refused to complete the outstanding, the Zeena & Zara brand will use all the content done on the shoot. This was discussed but you insisted on not paying, in case you change your mind, kindly pay up then the content will be taken down from our page. Thank you.”

     

  • IG orders policemen to be ruthless with secession agitators

    IG orders policemen to be ruthless with secession agitators

    Acting Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali yesterday ordered policemen to deal ruthlessly with criminal elements and secessionists who attempt to test their will.

    He spoke against the background of a breakdown of security in many parts of the country.

    In the Southeast and Southsouth, policemen are being killed in attacks on their stations, which are also most of the time burnt.

    Policemen on checkpoint are being wantonly killed by gunmen.

    The Owerri correctional centre was attacked and inmate freed.

    The violent activities of the separatist body the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have heightened.

    In the Southwest, the voice of separatists have grown louder with Prof. Banji Akintoye and Sunday Igboho, spearheading it.

    Yesterday in Enugu, the acting IG launched special operation codenamed Operation Restore Peace (Operation RP) at the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu, the state capital.

    Alkali said: “You are charged to be civil with the law-abiding citizens, but firm and ruthless with criminal elements and secessionists that may attempt to take the risk of testing your will or threatening the citizens within your area of jurisdiction.

    “In furtherance to the goals of this special operation, I charge you to henceforth, defend yourselves courageously against any armed group that attempts to attack you, any police assets, and other critical national infrastructure.”

    The IG advised the police officers and men on the special operation to see their deployment as a call to national duty.

    On expectations, he said: “First, to stabilise the security order in the Southeast in the shortest possible time. Second, to be professional in your conduct as you strive to attain this objective.”

    Alkali said: “The zone in recent years has been witnessing increasing cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and communal violence.

    “This trend has of late been laced with inter-ethnic intolerance and separatist agitation as championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

    “The separatist agenda of this group has assumed an armed dimension in which important political and community leaders, as well as personnel and assets of the Nigeria Police, military and other security agencies, are being constantly targeted in clearly well-coordinated, premeditated violent attacks in the region.

    “Aside from this, the deepening inter-ethnic prejudice and intolerance in the region are also occasioning unjustifiable inter-ethnic violence and counter-violence.

    “Apart from the massive loss of property and fatalities to lives, the violent campaigns are beginning to have a damaging effect on the socio-economic development of the region.

    “This trend is being compounded by the illegal proliferation of firearms as well as the deployment of the social media by the leadership of IPOB to indoctrinate, misinform, and misdirect Southeasterners towards the path of violent separatism.

    “This evolving trend constitutes a major threat to our nation’s internal security and national unity and, hence, requires urgent sets of all-inclusive actions to roll back the disastrous tide.

    “We should as a people, be determined to build a consensus, partner in condemning any act of criminality and resolve to work with the police and other security agencies towards identifying, isolating and bringing the criminal elements within our communities to deserved justice.

    “There must come a time in the life of a nation when we, as a people, must strengthen our will, and resolve to mobilise and deploy all our assets towards confronting these criminal elements, take the battle to their doorsteps, and make a clear statement that the few deviants within us cannot and will not re-order our cherished national values. The time is now.

    “Today’s launch of ‘Operation RP’ by the Nigeria Police is aimed at this direction and it follows the directives of Mr President to the Nigeria Police to re-evaluate and emplace new operational strategies to stem the tide of violence and secessionist agenda not only in the Southeast but across the country.

    “As the lead agency in the internal security framework of this country, the Nigeria Police under the current dispensation acknowledges that the duty of securing the lives and property of the citizens is its primary mandate.

    “The launch of ‘Operation RP’ in Enugu today is the first in the line of our strategic Action Plan to restore peace across the country and in the coming days, the special operation will be extended to other parts of the country to address peculiar crimes including banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery in other geopolitical Zones.

    “It is to be emphasised that ‘Operation RP’ will cover all the states within the Southeast geopolitical zone. I am confident that with the support of all strategic stakeholders, the operation will in due course, change the current security narratives in the Zone for good.”

    The operation, the police boss said, will be carried out by operatives of the Force in collaboration with the Armed Forces, the intelligence community and other sister security agencies.

    He solicited the support of the civil populace, particularly traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth associations, market bodies, cultural associations and professionals.

  • Why Buhari terminated IGP Adamu’s 3-month tenure extension

    Why Buhari terminated IGP Adamu’s 3-month tenure extension

    Minister of Police Affairs Maigari Dingyadi, says the three-month tenure extension granted to outgoing Inspector-General of Police Muhammad Adamu was terminated following completion of selection process for a new IG.

    Dingyadi has earlier announced the appointment of Deputy Inspector- General of Police (DIG) Usman Baba as Acting Inspector-General of Police..

    The appointment of Usman was with immediate effect.

    Buhari had on Feb. 4 extended the tenure of Adamu as the IGP for three months.

    Adamu, however, spent two months and three days of the extended period.

    Reacting to why the president did not allow the outgoing IG to last the three months of his extension, the minister:

    “The president is aware of this and you cannot take away that responsibility from him; he’s the one who is in charge of appointing or extending tenures.

    ”He has now decided to appoint a new person. So, please, allow him that responsibility and we cannot do anything about it,” he said.

    Dingyadi explained that the appointment of the acting IG followed a thorough check of a shortlist of suitably qualified police officers from the rank of DIGs and AIGs.

    He said all the shortlisted candidates were police officers, eligible for appointment as IG, in line with Section 7, Sub-section 2 of the Nigeria Police Act (2020).

    ”The tenure of the I-G Mohammed Adamu, which ended on February 1, 2021, was extended by theP president to enable a detailed process of appointing a new IG, in line with Section 15 (A) of the 1999 Constitution.

    ”After a thorough check of a shortlist of suitably qualified police officers from the rank of DIGs and AIGs, who are eligible police officers, eligible for appointment as I-G, in line with Section 7, Sub-section 2 of the Nigeria Police Act (2020).

    ”And having regards to seniority, professionalism, record of service and competence, the president has approved the appointment of an acting IG, in the person of Usman Alkali Baba, with immediate effect.

    ”These changes are in line with the determination of the president to rejig the security architecture and to ensure that the security challenges bedeviling the nation are brought to an end.

    ”The president has, therefore, charged the new appointee to rise to the challenge to ensure policing reform policy of this administration are fully prioritised and implemented to enable the police to perform most effectively for the peace and security of lives and property of all Nigerians,” he said.

    The minister quoted the president as thanking the outgoing IG, Mohammed Adamu, for his professionalism and dedication to duty during the period of his tenure.

    ”He wished him all the best in his future endeavours”.

  • Court summons Sowore over alleged fake report against IGP

    Court summons Sowore over alleged fake report against IGP

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has granted the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu’s prayer in the N10 billion suit filed against Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, to appear before it over an alleged false media report.

    Justice Binta Mohammed, in a ruling, granted the I-G’s plea filed by his lawyer, Alex Izinyon, SAN.

    Izinyon had, in the application, sought an order of the court, “granting leave to the claimant/applicant (Adamu) to issue and serve the writ of summons and statement of claim on the defendant who resides at No. 1, Mosafejo Street, Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA, Ondo State, outside the jurisdiction of this honorable court.

    “An order of this honorable court under the grant of prayer 1 above for leave to serve the writ of summons and statement of claim, witness statement and other processes filed on the defendant by substituted means by pasting same at No. 1, Mosafejo Street, Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA, Ondo State, and such service to be deemed as proper service.”

    IGP Adamu described as falsehood a report published by the media outfit, on Aug. 3, accusing him of illegally raising funds to build a Police Training School in Nasarawa State.

    Adamu, through his lawyer, Izinyon, had threatened to file a N10 billion suit against the online platform and its publisher, Sowore, unless an apology was tendered within seven days of the letter addressed to the media house on Aug. 6.

    He had vowed to file the suit except “a written and unequivocal retraction with an apology carried with the same prominence on its platform and three national dailies” was done.

    However, in a writ of summoning with suit number: CU/3506/2020 dated and filed on Dec.21, Izinyon sought “a declaration that the words published by the defendant against the claimant in the online website of Sahara Reporters of Aug. 3 falsely and maliciously written, published to the general public and therefore was defamatory of the person of the claimant.

    “The sum of N10 billion only to the claimant as aggravated and exemplary damages against the defendant for libel, falsely, and maliciously published by the defendant against the claimant in the online website.”

    The lawyer also urged the court to make an order, restraining the media outfit from publishing defamatory reports against his client any longer.

    Thereafter, the judge adjourned the matter until Jan. 26, 2021, for a hearing.

  • Despite #EndSWAT protests, IGP lists requirements for new SWAT operatives as training begins today

    Despite #EndSWAT protests, IGP lists requirements for new SWAT operatives as training begins today

    The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mohammed Adamu, has said the training for the new police tactical team, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the Nigeria Police will commence on Monday.

    This is despite the ongoing nationwide protests which led to the dissolution of the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and rejection of the newly formed replacement, SWAT.

    The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Mr Adamu said the new team would operate within very high professional and ethical standards, rule of law and dictates of best international policing practices.

    He said the training for SWAT personnel was being organised in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other unnamed development partners.

    The police boss said the training would hold at the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Training School, Ila Oragun, Osun and the PMF Training School, Ende Hills, Nasarawa State.

    According to him, no personnel of the defunct SARS will be a member of the new tactical team.

    “The officers selected for the training are young, smart and energetic officers who have acquired not less than seven years working experience with clean service records.

    “No pending disciplinary matters, no record of violation of rights of citizens or misuse of firearms and are physically fit to withstand the rigour of SWAT Training and Operations.