Police arrest 6 Fulani herdsmen who kidnapped Falae

Akure—Six of the suspected Fulani herdsmen, who kidnapped the former Secretary to the Federal Government Nigeria and Finance Minister. Chief Olu Falae, have been arrested and an unspecified amount of the ransom recovered from one of them.

Olu Falae

Vanguard gathered that the six abductors, were apprehended at separate locations in Niger, Ondo and Ekiti states, by a team of Special Intelligence Squad,  deployed to Ondo State by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.

The suspects, who were said to be of northern extraction, were picked when the operatives, following an intelligence report, combed several locations in Ondo, Ekiti and Niger States.

It was further gathered that one of the suspects was still in possession of his share of the ransom when he was apprehended.

Although the Ondo State  police Command was yet to confirm nor deny the arrest but competent family source confirmed the arrest.

Three of the abductors were apprehended in Niger State. Sources said seven others are still on the run.

Reports have it that the suspects, who will soon be paraded are being detained at the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS,  in Akure, the state capital.

Four of the suspects were reportedly arrested last week Sunday, while the other two were picked up during the week.

Vanguard learnt that the suspects have made confessional statement.

Speaking with newsmen, Police spokesman, Femi Joseph was not categorical about the arrest of the suspects.

He said; ‘’The kidnap of Chief Falae was a national  issue. It has been taken over by the Inspector General of Police. All the issue that has to do with Chief Falae is being handled by the IGP himself.

“I am sure that IGP will brief newsmen today on the development as regards the kidnap of Chief Falae.’’

A visit to the state police command showed that the security in the SARS had been upped.

The former Finance Minister  was abducted by gun-wielding Fulani herdsmen in his farm located at Ilado village in Akure North area of the state.

He was released after 72 hours in captivity and payment of N5 million ransom to the kidnappers.

The politician’s kidnap had generated a lot of controversies across the country.

Various Yoruba groups have condemned the activities of the herdsmen  in the South west.

Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba Socio Political group at an emergency meeting a week ago called for the stoppage of cattle rearing activities in South West states.

Spokesman of the group, Yinka Odumakin said that their activities  should be stopped in entire Yorubaland.

A Communique read by Odumakin said “We demand that nomadic cattle rearing should be stopped in ever y state of Yoruba land.

According to him “We are not unmindful of some silences, but the voices of those who spoke for the solidarity with boldness with which they have spoken out on   this barbarity.

Also, at the weekend Yoruba leaders gathered for a summit in Ibadan threatening secession if the herdsmen menace was not addressed.

Police arrest 6 Fulani herdsmen who kidnapped Falae

Probe alleged defilement of 6-yr-old girl - IG orders Edo CP

BENIN—INSPECTOR- General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has directed Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. James Ezike, to investigate the alleged defilement of a 6-year-old girl (names withheld), by three students of School of Nursing, Benin-City.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

The suspects include Kennedy, Paul Aghama and Jeffery.

The IG in the directive signed by his Principal Staff Officer, Idowu Owohunwa, ACP, also directed the Commissioner of Police to revert the earlier decision of the office of the AIG Zone 5 which in its report said the 6-year-old girl defiled herself by using instruments to penetrate her private part.

The IG’s directive was sequel to a petition by Olayiwola Afolabi, counsel to the mother of the girl, which appealed to him to constitute an independent panel of police investigators other than those from AIG Zone 5 to conduct a fresh investigation into the case, in view of the fact that some powerful persons were trying to use their positions to ensure that the case was swept under the carpet.

Giving the background of the case, Afolabi said that on May 25, 2015, the motyher of the girl, on discovering that her daughter was having abdominal pains, took her to the hospital where she was examined by a doctor who discovered that she had been defiled and her hymen broken.

He said when the little girl was questioned by her mother, she confessed that some students from the State School of Nursing who she gave their names as Kennedy, Paul Aghama and Jeffery took her from her mother’s shop through the window and defiled her twice on their bed.

The counsel disclosed that his client reported the case at Aideyan Police Station which later transferred it to Esigie Police Station where the section in charge of defilement cases in Benin was carrying out a discreet investigation into the case before the suspects and their cohorts concocted a frivolous petition to the office of the AIG in the zone.

Probe alleged defilement of 6-yr-old girl - IG orders Edo CP

Asset Decration: Court orders Saraki"s arrest

ABUJA – The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja has ordered the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase and other relevant security agencies in ‎the country to arrest the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Bukola Saraki

In a ruling this afternoon, the tribunal headed by Justice Danladi Umar issued a bench warrant against Saraki following his refusal to appear in court to face a 13-count criminal charge that was preferred against him by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

FG had through a deputy director in the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. M.S. Hassan, asked the tribunal to order Saraki’s arrest.

‎Saraki who was billed for arraignment this morning, sent his team of lawyers to serve the tribunal with a copy of the ruling of Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, which summoned the Ministry of Justice to appear on Monday to show cause why the trial should be allowed to proceed.

Equally summoned by the court were the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar and that of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, as well as Mr. Hassan who signed the charge against Saraki.

Meanwhile, irked by Saraki’s absence at the tribunal for the commencement of his prosecution over alleged false declaration of assets, the Ministry of Justice prayed the Justice Umar-led panel to order for his arrest, saying “he cannot sit in the comfort of his chamber and object to his trial in absentia”.

The prosecution further maintained that Justice Mohammed lacked the powers to summon ‎the CCT and CCB chairmen, even as it accused Saraki of engaging in “forum shopping” in a desperate bid to scuttle his trial.

Meanwhile, Saraki has through his lawyer, begged the tribunal to consider his position as the Senate President and stay the execution of the arrest warrant, saying he would be available for trial on Monday.

His plea was refused by Justice Umar who maintained that the accused person, having sworn to protect the constitution, ought to have shown respect to the tribunal by appearing before it today.

Asset Decration: Court orders Saraki"s arrest

IGP donates medical equipment to Edo IDPs

Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has donated medical supplies and three tanks for storing water to Internally Displaced Persons at a camp in Uhogua village, Ovia North East Local Government.

Out of the 900 Boko Haram victims that were brought to camp, 142 of them were returned to their families two weeks ago.

Arase assured the IDPs who are mostly children that adequate security would be provided for them.

Represented by Force Medical Officer, AIG Grace Okudo, Arase promised the IDPs that they would not lack anything.

The police boss said his men would be on ground to meet the needs of the Boko Haram victims especially as it relates to their general well-being.

According to him; “We will do our best for you. We know many diseases can be caused by water so we brought these Geepee tanks.

“You will not miss anything. Our team from Asaba and Benin will be visiting to know your needs particularly as regards your health issues.  We will be coming always to see what we can do.”

Founder of the International Christian Mission, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, thanked the police boss for his intervention.

IGP donates medical equipment to Edo IDPs

Forgery Of Standing Rules: Fear as NASS await reports on Ekweremadu

Revealed: The ‘forged’ 8th Senate voting rule

Tension is building up at the National Assembly as the Nigeria Police Force gets set to make public the report of its findings on the alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules on the election of principal officers.

Ekweremadu

In the eye of the storm is the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is being accused by his colleagues of using his position to alter the rules to favorite him during the controversial election whose result has polarized the Senate and caused acrimony of unimaginable dimension.

Although the politician is yet to be invited by the police in connection with the allegation, his supporters have already raised the alarm that he was being witch-hunted and threatened to cause trouble if any harm comes his way.

Vanguard’s investigation however showed that the uproar being orchestrated by both Ekweremadu’s Peoples Democratic Party and his office, were aimed at pre-empting the anticipated criminal charges likely to be pressed against him by the security agencies over the alleged doctoring of the Senate’s rules.

Sources close to both Ekweremadu and that of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, confirmed that the DSP was never invited over any allegation regarding the altering of the Senate’s rules.

A  top police officer   confirmed that on Tuesday that the office of the IGP was shocked over the furore being orchestrated by politicians in the media regarding the purported move by the police to arrest and incriminate the DSP.

The officer, who works closely with the IGP, but pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, made it clear that at no time did the police write any letter or intend to write to summon Ekweremadu over the issue at stake.

When our correspondent raised the issue of inviting the DSP by the IGP, the officer was upset, saying that no such invitation had emanated from the NPF.

“I think the media is actually being used to cause avoidable heat in the polity because the police did not and has not invited any politician for interrogation.

A close ally of the Deputy Senate President confessed that though no invitation had been extended by the police to the politician, they needed to raise the alarm to prevent any threat to the Senator, who retained his position by default in a controversial election last month, to the chagrin of the ruling APC.

The Senate source said: “It is true that the alarm raised by us and the PDP has helped to calm things down.  We needed to make the noise to prevent the DSP from being arrested, investigated and harassed by the security agencies to please his opponents.

“As things are now, we are monitoring to ensure that the DSP is not implicated in any way over the last Senate election,” the source close to Ekweremadu, said.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the police only wrote to the Clerk of the NASS asking for a convenient time and place to discuss issues relating to the alleged forging of the standing rules of the 8th Senate, a request which it claimed, was yet to be responded to by the CNA.

But Vanguard discovered that at the centre of the forgery is a slight difference between the voting procedures used in the election of the principal officers of the Senate in 2011 and 2015.

Vanguard’s finding shows that while the 2011 Standing Rules stipulated that the election of Senators should be done by dividing the members and taking the votes, that of 2015 says that the election should be done either through electronic voting or via secret ballot.

The 2011 standing rule which was used for the 7th Senate says: “When only two Senators –elect are nominated and seconded as President of Senate, the election shall be conducted as follows: The Senate shall divide with the proposers and seconders as tellers.

(ii) Voting shall be conducted by the Clerks-at-the-Table using the Division List of the Senate with the tellers in attendance. The Clerk of the Senate shall submit the result of the division to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

Strangely, the mode of voting was however changed in respect of voting in 2015 causing ripples in the upper legislative chambers.

Section 3(3) (e) of the 2015 Senate Standing rule states: “When two or more Senators-elect are nominated and seconded as Senate President, the election shall be conducted as follows: by electronic voting; or voting by secret ballot which shall be conducted by the Clerks-at-Table using the list of the Senators-elect of the Senate, who shall each be given a ballot paper to cast his vote, with the proposers and seconder as teller.

“The Clerk of the Senate shall submit the result of the voting to the Clerk of the National Assembly who shall then declare the Senator-elect who has received the highest number of votes ‘as Senate President-elect.

The question begging for answers now is: who changed the rules for 2015 election and who authorised it when the Senators had vacated office before the election on June 9, 2015?

 

Forgery Of Standing Rules: Fear as NASS await reports on Ekweremadu

Breaking: IGP summons Ekweremadu over forgery of Senate Rules

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, has summoned the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, over alleged forgery of the Senate Rules.

Ekweremadu is expected to appear before a team of investigators at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

National Publicity Secretary of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, confirmed the invitation at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday.

Details later.

Breaking: IGP summons Ekweremadu over forgery of Senate Rules

Checkpoints’ withdrawal will restore police mandate – IGP

The inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, on Tuesday said the withdrawal of military checkpoints will restore the police mandate of ensuring internal security.

Arase also disclosed that force top hierarchy has concluded arrangements on dress code for the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the police.

The IGP spoke during a meeting with Commissioners of Police in Abuja.

He said: “The withdrawal of the military should not create any fear in the minds of Nigerians, we have done it before and we are going to do it again. We have about 555 vehicles on the highway nationwide, each state has about 15 vehicles to man the highway.

“Besides that, prior to this time, most of the states had about 20 vehicles each. They are not sufficient but what we have now should do to ensure that we are able to secure the highway space.

“Constitutionally, other security agents have the responsibility to also complement the efforts of the NPF, asking us to take over the responsibility of the roadblocks which originally was supposed to be our turf will not create any vacuum.

“Nigerians I believe will not want to listen to excuses from us and we have opportunity now to take over our mandate of securing the internal security space.”

On the proposed dress code for SARS, the IGP said: “We have discussed it extensively in management and we have agreed that there should be a dress code for all our SARS so that they would be identified with it.

“We are trying to get some designs and the DIG in charge of logistics is expected to bring that up to management for approval and once that is done, we will unveil it and everybody will know the dress code for SARS operatives nationwide.”

Checkpoints’ withdrawal will restore police mandate – IGP

Acting IGP Threatens to Arrest CPs, DPOs over Road Blocks

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase yesterday in Enugu, threatened to arrest Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers who failed to enforce the ban on road-blocks.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

Arase said a task-force has been put in place specifically for that purpose.

Speaking shortly after he attended the graduation ceremony of Batch one, Tactical Intelligence and Command Management Course at the Police Intelligence School, Enugu, the IGP said he would not tolerate any stories in that regard.

He also warned police officers against corruption as he had zero tolerance for corruption, adding that he would not like people to be kept in detention unnecessarily.

“I don’t like keeping people in detention unnecessarily. Before you arrest somebody, you should have gathered sufficient evidence, so it should not take you more than 48 hours to decide on what next to do.

“The idea of arresting people before you go and start gathering evidence will no longer be tolerated”, he stated

The Acting Inspector General of Police restated that the ban on road-block was still in force, noting that in the place of road-block, which he said damaged the image of the force, highway patrol teams should be made efficient to instil confidence on road users.

Earlier at  the Police Intelligence School, Arase had recalled that the institution was opened  in 2012 upon the realisation “that in over one hundred years of its existence, the Nigeria Police had no institution dedicated to the training of intelligence operatives.

“This gap, by my professional judgement, was a fundamental factor in the inability of the Force to cope with the dynamics of crime in Nigeria and within the West African sub-region”.

The Acting IGP said even though some successes were recorded at the take-off of the institution, “Sadly, however, the success slowed down following the suspension of training activities for the past one year due largely to budgetary challenges”.

Acting IGP Threatens to Arrest CPs, DPOs over Road Blocks

Attacks on Media Houses: IGP orders water-tight security

The Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Solomon Arase has ordered water-tight security around media houses nationwide.

In a statement by Ag. CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, Force Public Relations Officer, Abuja said the IG is concerned about the recent attacks on the media houses, and journalists and has therefore ordered water-tight security around media houses nationwide.

“This is in line with the mandate of the Nigeria Police Force to protect lives and property of the citizenry under the law. The IGP acknowledges the valuable roles of the media to the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

The IGP further advices citizens to be more vigilant and proactive and to report any suspicious movement or persons to the Police promptly for appropriate action.

 

Attacks on Media Houses: IGP orders water-tight security

Why Jonathan fired IGP, Abba Suleiman

ABUJA — THE Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, yesterday, became the first major casualty of the just concluded general elections, which President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lost to the opposition.

The police officer, who was elevated to the post only last year, incurred the wrath of the Presidency on the eve of the governorship and House of Assembly elections for allegedly arguing with the government officials over the directive to recall the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zone 6, Tunde Ogunshakin, from Rivers State.

Abba, it was learnt, had deployed Ogunshakin from his base in Calabar to Port Harcourt to oversee the governorship election in Rivers State following complaints by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, that the police had collaborated with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the PDP to intimidate APC members and rig the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

His refusal to pick calls over Ogunshakin’s recall

Another source said the former police boss reportedly ignored presidency official’s objection to the deployment of Ogunshakin to Rivers State on the allegation that the police officer was sympathetic to Amaechi and his party and would, therefore, not allow the PDP win the state.

A Presidency source told Vanguard that on learning that the IG had defied its order by redeploying Ogunshakin to Rivers State to supervise the governorship elections. A presidency official called the former police boss to recall the AIG with immediate effect from Rivers State or face the consequences.

The source said the presidency felt slighted when it could not get through to Abba.

The former police boss reportedly told the Presidency that AIG Ogunshakin was a formidable Police officer whom he described as a ‘no-nonsense officer’ feared and respected in the Police Force hierarchy and capable of ensuring law and order in the place of new assignment.

Vanguard learnt that although the sacked IG reluctantly recalled Ogunshakin from Rivers State, forcing him to quit Port Harcourt by 5 am on the election day, Presidency did not forgive Abba for redeploying Ogunshakin reluctantly.

Presence at Buhari’s certificate of return presentation

Another sin of the former IG was his presence at the presentation of the Certificate of Return to Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre on April 1, 2015, which convinced the Presidency that the IG was actually working for the opposition and it moved quickly against him.

Arase replaces Abba

The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, could not also be reached for comments on the development.

Abba’s sack was announced by the president’s spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a statement yesterday. No reason was given for the sack while a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, was appointed to act in his stead.

Abati’s statement read in full: “President Goodluck Jonathan has relieved the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, of his appointment and duties with immediate effect.

“President Jonathan has also appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, as Acting Inspector-General of Police, also with immediate effect.

“Until his appointment as Mr. Abba’s replacement, Mr. Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.

“Mr. Arase holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Law, as well as Bachelors and Masters degrees in Political Science and Strategic Studies.

“He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.”

Mr. Abba, 56, became acting Inspector General on August 1, 2014 following the retirement of his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar, after 35 years of public service.

He was confirmed substantive IGP on November 4, 2014.

Abba was, until that appointment, an Assistant Inspector General, AIG, in charge of Zone 7 Command, a position he occupied since May 25, 2012. He was also an Aide-De-Camp, ADC, to the wife of a former military Head of State, Maryam Abacha.

With his removal, Mr. Abba will proceed on forced retirement, four years before he attains retirement age.

He enlisted in the Nigeria Police as Cadet Inspector on December 31, 1984 and is actually due for retirement on March 22, 2019.

 

Why Jonathan fired IGP, Abba Suleiman

APC raises alarm over plot to arrest its leaders during election

*As PDP/SARS Launch operation Crush the Ants

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has uncovered a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the police to clamp down on its leaders with a view to keeping them out of circulation during the forthcoming general elections. Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, raised the alarm about the sinister plot in a statement issued Sunday in Port Harcourt.

APC data Centre

“Our attention has been drawn to a sinister plot by the Rivers State PDP in conjunction with the Special Armed Robbery Squad (SARS) of the State Police Command to launch what they call the mother of all operations code-named ‘Operation Total Crippling of Rivers APC’ aimed at ensuring that none of our leaders walks the streets freely during the forthcoming elections,” Ikanya said In the statement.

He quoted those privy to the plot as disclosing that leading APC members are to be code-named ‘ANTS’ to be crushed without any mercy. “The strategy to be adopted is for the PDP leadership to come up with fabricated petition alleging that the 300 APC leaders to be arrested are cultists, kidnappers or armed robbers. The plot is to keep at bay all the strong men behind the election of the APC candidates until after the elections of March of 28th and April 11th 2015. Should this ploy fail, both Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Hon Asita Okorie Asita, the gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates respectively of Rivers APC, shall be arrested and kept incommunicado until after the elections,” Ikanya said. He alleged that Promise Wosu, the Head of SARS in Rivers State, to be assisted by Samuel Nwanosike a.k.a Ishi, is to ensure the success of the clamedown on the ‘ANTS’. It is also a fact that Ishi is the Head of Security of Wike’s Campaign Organisation aka New Generation

According to the Rivers APC Chairman, “part of the strategy is to plant guns in the residences and business outfits of some of the leading APC Leaders and use the Police to search and arrest them accordingly. The Special Unit has already swung into action, doing the bidding of the PDP by arresting some of those in the 300-man list. In this regard, Hon. Bouchi Nsirim was picked up at Aluu while addressing APC members going for the Buhari Rally last Thursday while Hon. Prince Adele Sam Wobo was picked up at Rumueme after a successful APC rally at Rumueme. Hon. Bestman Amadi was attacked at Rukpoku. Others arrested so far are Hon Tony Gboms, Alhaji Onukem and Hon. Charles Anyanwu-Caretaker Chairman,Etche Local Government.

Assassination attempt was made on Hon Wanjoku chikere Azubuike a member of Rivers State House of Assembly representing Ikwerre on the 28th of January at his residence in Port Harcourt while on 21st February, 2015 a combined team of armed personnels invaded his country home leaving tales of woes behind

In the eyes of this new marriage between PDP and SARS it is a taboo for anybody to be a member of APC and it is a higher crime to decamp from PDP to APC. That was the crime committed by Hon Rock Ahunaya, Hon. Roger Ahunaya and Romeon Ahunaya From Ipo Village in Ikwerre LGA as they were arrested without any charge for the heinous crime of defecting from PDP to APC.

Dr ikanya lamented that the crackdown is coming after the killing of 40 of Rivers APC members within two months, the bombing of the party’s secretariats in Okiika and Adoni Local Governments, attacking of the convoy of the wife of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the maiming of the younger brother of Governor Amaechi, and the violent disruption of the party’s rally at Okirika on two occasions and the killing of a police man in the process.

Rivers APC appealed for the immediate intervention of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, and Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature, before more damage is done to the image of the police.

“As we ask our people to remain calm and not do anything to assist the PDP in their devilish plot to plunge our State into a war zone, we plead with the international community and civil society organisations to come to our aide and prevent the genocide being planned against our people because of politics. We ask our people to remain resolute and not be intimidated as the perpetrators of these acts and their collaborators will be brought to justice. No Matter the situation the siege will soon be over in a matter two weeks when General Buhari would have being duly elected as the President elect of Nigeria come March, 28th, 2015,” Dr. Ikanya said in the statement.

APC raises alarm over plot to arrest its leaders during election

Arewa youth leader calls for sack of Defence Minister, NSA, IGP

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By Ishola Balogun

Alhaji Shettima Yerima,  an activist and president of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, in this interview says that peace may continue to be elusive if some ethnic groups are treated as second class citizens in the Nigeria project, adding that justice and fairness can only ensure the much desired peace in the country. Excerpts.

The inflammatory statements here and there especially coming from politicians and ex-militants on the general elections are source of worry. You agree?

I am worried because this is not what we expected from this country at this time. I am very worried also because we don’t need these inflammatory statements coming here and there at this particular time. It baffles me when I see our democracy turning into something else. People don’t talk as patriotic Nigerians. Politicians don’t talk about what will benefit the people any more and those who are beneffiting from the government shy away from the truth. Most of them believe that they can do anything and go away with it.

Many Politicians seem to have forgotten that election will come and go but the country will remain.

We have done it in the past and we are going to do it again. Those who are making inflamatory statements are those who have not contributed any thing to the growth of the country, they were not on the trenches when there were problems but they have the opportunity to be there not because they are better than us. Let all politicians be mindful of what they say because if anything goes wrong, they will all be affected. If they think they will run away, they may not be able to escape and if they do, their families will be affected.

With some of these war threat, people are apprehensive of possible post election violence, what are you doing to stop it?

The post election violence in 2011 is still fresh in my memory. So many people were killed and many families were wiped out in Kano. I saw how people were lynched. It was good that it didn’t escalate to the south. We liaised with various ethnic nationalities and it was controlled. We have worked alongside some international organisations and built a good relationship. But we have been able to manage the situation and those leaders from various organisations that are based in the South have actually seen our efforts and have trusted us.

As one of the Northern leaders, I give updates to people and educate them on what to do. Where danger looms, I call the attention of the government and security agencies to avert it and to protect people.

Right now, are you doing the same inorder to forestall a repeat of the post-election violence in 2011?

We are doing it. As I speak with you, we are in touch with various ethnic national leaders. I have spoken, with Fredrick Fasheun, Gani Adams, Asari Dokubo and the rest of them. We are discussing extensively and we might hold a press briefing very soon on the need for violence-free elections before and after election in all parts of the country.

These people are of the view that they are being treated as second class citizens. Yes! I agree with some of their views because we are all the same in this project Nigeria.

There is hope if we have equity and fairness. The politicians have to watch their utterances. These days, the campaigns are not based on issues but attack on personalities. It has even extended to generations of a families. I don’t think it is right, people must be called to order. The politicians are too rascal in their approaches.

To me, both the ex-militants and TY Danjuma are wrong. The call for war is wrong and also depriving somebody of his freedom of speech is also wrong. If Jonathan loses through normal process, they have no reason to raise any eyebrow; again, there are other channels without war. You can go to court and challenge the verdict. Nigeria must be seen to be bigger than any individual. Again, the call by Danjuma that they should be arrested is uncalled for because similar statements have been made by other people in the past. What happened? Was there any arrest? No. So, anybody talking now is enjoying his liberty under a democratic government.

But from the discussion I had with so many of them, nobody wants war.

 What efforts are the Northern leaders putting in place to ensure that there is no repeat of 2011 post election violence?

You can see that I spend most of the time, in the north. I move from one state to another trying to consult with various youth organisations. We are trying to educate them on the consequences of violence. It usually starts when somebody initiates a bad idea and put it on people. These people believe whatever they are told and they start killing people. We try as much as we can to diffuse that mindset, sensitize them and make them realise the effect of their action. Be that as it may, I don’t think that is enough, government must also rise to the challenge that adequate security is provided during and after the elections.

 The Boko Haram insurgents seem to have defied all government’s strategy to wipe them out, what do you think government should have done?

In fairness, I don’t expect President Jonathan to go to Maiduguri and fight. There are people saddled with that responsibility. It shows these people have demonstrated total incompetence. The government then must rise to the occasion to saction them, sack them and bring fresh people who will deal very well with the situation. So, when people tell me Jonathan is behind Boko Haram, I get confused the more. Most of the people involved in security of the country are from the Northern area, so, are they in any way sabotaging the efforts of the government or serving the interest of a particular people?

We should ask Minister for Defence, the National Security Adviser, NSA, the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-General of the federation, all of them are from the north. Instead of pointing accusing fingers, these people should tell us about it and we will know where the problem is coming from rather than blaming Jonathan alone.

 But these people get order and directives from the President…

Yes! I am sure there is an order and if there is none, I challenge them to come forward and say it. So, if there is an order and they refuse to carry out the order, or they don’t carry it out well he should sack them. Fire all of them and bring in fresh blood that will tackle this problem and save our nation. What is affecting Maiduguri and other places, is indirectly affecting other parts of the country.

 

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Arewa youth leader calls for sack of Defence Minister, NSA, IGP

Tambuwal wants IG jailed for ‘flouting court order’

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to summon the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, to explain why he should not be jailed for disobeying the court’s order.

Tambuwal and IGP

Tambuwal accused Abba of consistently disobeying the court order made on November 7, 2014, which directed parties in his substantive suit filed to stop his removal as a member and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The Speaker had on Thursday filed the fresh application before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, alleging that Abba’s instruction to the men of the police force to deny him access into the premises of the National Assembly preventing him from carrying out his lawful duties on November 20, amounted to flouting the court order.

He added that Abba, in further disrespect of the order, on November 26, appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs and told the members that he would not recognise him (Tambuwal) as the Speaker.

The grounds of Tambuwal’s application read in part, “On November 7, 2014, when this matter came up the 5th defendant (the Inspector General of Police) was represented in court by a learned senior counsel, Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN).

“The learned senior counsel for the 5th defendant informed the honourable court that the the fifth defendant was duly served with the originating summons in this suit.

“This honourable court thereafter ordered that party should maintain status quo pending on the determination of the substantive suit.

“Everybody except Suleiman Abba, Esq, who is the Inspector General of Police, has been obeying the order of this honourable court made on November 7, 2014.”

Tambuwal, through his lawyer, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who leads eight other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and battery of other lawyers, is therefore seeking, “an order of this honourable court directing Suleiman Abba, Esq, (Inspector General of Police) – the 5th defendant in this suit – to appear in person and to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for contempt of order of this honourable court ordering maintenance of status quo on November 7, 2014 and/or for acting in manners and ways which showed disrespect to court.”

Justice Mohammed on Friday asked the plaintiff to convert the application which was filed as an ex parte motion to a motion on notice and serve same on Abba through his lawyer, Okeaya-Inneh.

The judge then adjourned till December 3 for the hearing of the application.

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Tambuwal wants IG jailed for ‘flouting court order’

Some SAN seek IG dismissal

Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria including Olisa Agbakoba, Yusuf Ali and Niyi Akintola, have called for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, over his refusal to acknowledge Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Abba Suleiman, New Inspector General of Police

In his  reaction, Akintola (SAN), said the IG erred by saying that it was wrong to recognise Tambuwal as the Speaker, on the excuse that the matter was in court.

He said, “The IG cannot turn himself into a court of justice to be interpreting the law. It is left for the court to interpret it one way or the other; it is not open to anybody. I think the attitude of the IG calls for concerted effort of all Nigerians to put him in check. The impunity and the derogatory remarks of the IG, if allowed to go unchecked, he will extend it to the President of the Senate, he will extend it to the CJN and he will even extend it to the Vice President.

“So to me, it is not even Tambuwal that is affected and it is very unfortunate because I would have expected that by now members of the National Assembly should have relieved him of that position. The IG is simply not mature enough to lead an organisation like the Police. All Nigerians should rise up against the impunity of this man called Abba.”

He added that the issue was not about Tambuwal but about democracy.

“And I am of the opinion that members of the National Assembly should rise up to the occasion and the man should be sacked, anything short of that, they should all go back to their respective homes until the man resigns,” Akintola added.

Also, Yusuf Ali, (SAN), said though both the Nigeria Police and the IG were supposed to be insulated from politics, Abba had demonstrated beyond any doubt that he was partisan.

“For whoever is the occupant of that office to be partisan, it is dangerous for our democracy. And that is part of the problems that we have in this country, we don’t have institutions. We only have government departments and loyalists, not to Nigerians but to individuals in government.

“It is quite unfortunate that the number one police officer in this country took it upon himself to assume the position of the court of law that pronounces the seat of the Speaker vacant and it is even more disappointing and pathetic that he is a lawyer, who is expected to know better.

“What happened yesterday was arrant insubordination,” Ali said.

For Agbakoba, the IG was wrong because the court had to pronounce the question of the Speaker’s resignation and until the court makes that pronouncement, clearly the Speaker would be entitled to be addressed as the Speaker.

“The IG was also wrong to have caused the raid of the National Assembly, so I think altogether, the IG has been acting as if he is politically-motivated and it is very dangerous. The IG was wrong to say he could not recognise the Speaker because the matter is in court.”

Also, the members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, on Thursday insisted that the action of the police was a clear invitation to anarchy and that the continued denigration of the legislature was dangerous being the most important symbol of democracy.

The Acting National President of PASAN, Mr. Mohammed Bala, who stated this at a news conference in Abuja, therefore advocated a constitutionally empowered Sergeant-At-Arms, who would be solely responsible for the security of the legislature.

Some SAN seek IG dismissal

IGP address speaker as Alhaji, fence-climing lawmakers as thugs

By Emman Ovuakporie

ABUJA—Members of the House Committee on Police Affairs were shocked yesterday when the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Sulaiman Abba, told them that he would not address Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Abba Suleiman, New Inspector General of Policeuwal

 

Abba drew the ire of the committee members when in his submission addressed the Speaker as Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and also described the lawmakers who scaled the gate last Thursday as suspected thugs.

At this point, Rep. Akeem Muniru, APC, Lagos declared that ”if the Inspector General of Police cannot appropriately address the Speaker on whose ticket we were appointed as members of this committee then I will honourably leave here.”

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Usman Kumo, PDP, Gombe quickly interjected, appealing to his members that the Inspector-General of Police has the floor and should be allowed to deliver his submission without interference.

Members openly complained, particularly Hon. Shuaibu Gwandu, PDP, Sokoto and Hon. Rufai Chachangi, APC, Kaduna, declaring that the IGP should retract what he said.

After about five minutes, the chairman successfully calmed frayed nerves.

Reading his submission, Abba said: “My deep sympathy goes to those who sustained injuries in what happened on November 20 and let me say here that it hurts my own person as the events of that day traumatised me.

“What transpired on that day was unprecedented worldwide as policemen were disobeyed, beaten and many things that followed after that date. In the process of safeguarding the security of the National Assembly on November 20, we collaborated with the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms according to laid down procedures where members were being asked to identify themselves before they could be allowed into the premises.

“And at the gate there, a tear gas exploded when ‘Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal’ was being asked to identity himself. We still don’t know the circumstances surrounding the explosion and we are investigating it.”

I acted on credible information —IGP

He claimed he acted based on credible information to deploy his men to the NASS on the said day, adding that the action was also due to what happened on the 19th when Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and other APC supporters besieged the Force Headquarters promising to do worse things the following day, including going to the National Assembly.

He said: “Considering what happened in Burkina Faso on October 30 where the palace was invaded, we had no choice than to go for reinforcement to curb the situation.”

Suspected thugs

The IGP insisted that there were reports that those who scaled the fence on that day were thugs.

Asked whether the so-called thugs include the lawmakers who resorted to scaling the fence after being locked out by the Police, he said the actions that were taken were based on the need to forestall breakdown of law and order as witnessed recently in Bukina Faso.

“We acted on credible information about suspected thugs who wanted to invade the Assembly and because we didn’t want what happened in Bukina Faso to repeat itself here, we had to take stringent security measures,” the IGP said.

Tambuwal should be properly addressed—Lawmakers

Lawmakers were, however, furious on the manner in which the Police chief addressed the person of the Speaker as a mere Alhaji whose name has no protocol and national significance whatsoever.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Usman Kumo, then called the IGP to order, insisting that the Speaker and his office must be respected and addressed accordingly.

After observing that the IGP was not forthcoming, Hon. Hakeem Muniru (APC Lagos) demanded that “the IGP must retract his statement calling the Speaker, ‘Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal’ or I take my leave as I would deem this sitting as an illegal one. Because I can’t participate in a hearing where the office of the Speaker through whose authority we are having this meeting is not even recognised by an appointee of the executive.”

Hon. Victor Nwokolo (PDP Delta) said: “I agree with the earlier speaker on the issues at stake which has to do with the IGP retracting his disrespectful statement about the office of the Speaker.”

Kumo, however, failed to obtain compliance from the IGP and told his colleagues that he would report back to the House what transpired and therefore adjourned the hearing sine die.

Vow to apply relevant laws to checkmatwe IGP

Meanwhile, spokesman of the House of Representatives, Zakari Mohammed, yesterday, said all relevant laws would be looked into to checkmate the Inspector General of Police.

Apparently reacting to the outcome of the public hearing held at NASS complex where the IGP refused to properly address the speaker appropriately, Mohammed said: ”When we resume we shall invoke the right laws to deal with the situation. Since the IGP has assumed the position of another arm of government, we will handle the situation the right way very soon. The issue here is that the IGP has turned himself into the judiciary.”

Another top ranking member of the House said: “We will ensure that this particular IGP goes down in history as one who wanted to desecrate the sanctity of the National Assembly. He must certainly pay for his act of indiscretion and mischief.”

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IGP address speaker as Alhaji, fence-climing lawmakers as thugs

Angry lawmakers walk out IGP over NASS invasion

… Insist IG shows up Nov 26

By Emman Ovuakporie

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, Friday, walked out representatives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Sulaiman Abba.

Chairman of the committee, Hon Usman Kumho told the representatives that it is the legislative duty of the National Assembly to summon anybody to answer questions and in this the only man who can answer the questions is the IGP.

Kumho stressed further that, “after  wide consultations  with my fellow lawmakers we decided to pick November 26 for the IG to appear before us”.

The IG’s team was led by Deputy Inspector General of Police,DIG, Mr Sotonye  Nwakama.

The committee had on Thursday after the police unleashed terror on lawmakers at the National Assembly summoned the IGP to come and explain his role in the premeditated incident.

The IG however wrote the committee that he would be unavoidably absent at the hearing.

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Angry lawmakers walk out IGP over NASS invasion

IGP warns Amaechi, Oyegun, Others to take their angers to court

• Amaechi barricaded police headquarters

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba has warned the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and other political leaders to take their campaigns to the electorate, rathern than engage distrupting government activities and daily chores of Nigerians engaged in the pursuit of their lawful businesses.

Gov. Amaechi at the blockage of Force Headquarters entrance today in Abuja

This was contained in a statement published on the official website of the force on Wednesday, monitored by NAJA CENTER NEWS after Governor Amaechi led a protest in Abuja.

Rotimi Amaechi, National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Chief Odiegie Oyegun barricaded the Entrance Gates of the Nigeria police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday morning.

Reacting to the action of the politicians, the IGP urges members of the political class and their fllowers who have grievances to seek redress in the court of law instead of disturbing the peace of the innocent, law abiding citizens.

The IGP further urges members of the political class and their followers who have grievances to seek redress in the court of law, rather than disturb the peace of innocent, law abiding citizens.

IGP added that the incident was provocative and uncivilised but the Police exhibited maximum restraint in the face of ceaseless provocation by the APC leaders and their botley crowd without confrontation.

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IGP warns Amaechi, Oyegun, Others to take their angers to court

Tambuwal no longer entitled to security details -Adoke, IGP

The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, have insisted that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, is no longer entitled to security details.

Abba Suleiman, New Inspector General of Police

They argued that Tambuwal had ceased to be a member of the House and its Speaker, having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, which in 2011 sponsored his election into the House of Representatives, to the All Progressives Congress.

They maintained that Tambuwal had now become an ordinary citizen, who was no longer entitled to the privileges attached to the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

These are the contentions canvassed by both the Inspector-General of Police and Adoke in a joint counter-affidavit, which they filed before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in response to the suit by Tambuwal and the APC.

The IGP and the AGF are the 5th and 7th defendants in the suit respectively.

The plaintiffs filed the suit to challenge the withdrawal of his security details, alleged threat by the PDP to declare his seat vacant and remove him as Speaker.

The lawyer, who represented the IGP and the AGF, Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), argued that the police authorities could not be accused of breaching the Constitution by withdrawing Tambuwal’s security details, since he (Tambuwal) had lost his seat as House member and Speaker.

The counter affidavit, which was deposed to on behalf of the AGF and IGP by one of their lawyers, Nnamdi Ekwem, read in part, “The 1st plaintiff (Tambuwal) vacated his seat in the House of Representatives as a member of that House, when he became a member of the 2nd plaintiff (All Progressive Congress) in October 2014, having been elected in 2011mon the platform of the 1st defendant (PDP).

“The seat of the 1st plaintiff in the House of Representatives became automatically vacant by virtue of his defection to the 2nd plaintiff (APC) and consequently ceased to be the Speaker of the 3rd defendant (the House of Representatives).

“The first plaintiff is not constitutionally entitled to security details and as such, the 5th defendant did not contravene any law by its withdrawal of the 1st plaintiff’s security details. The withdrawal of the security details of the 1st plaintiff was necessitated by the fact the he had vacated his office as a member of the House of Reps and consequently ceased to be the Speaker of the 3rd defendant.

“The 1st plaintiff is no longer a member of the House of Representatives and as such not entitled to any right or privilege attached to the office of the Speaker of the 3rd defendant. That, the 1st plaintiff, as an ordinary citizen of Nigeria, was not exposed to any danger of bodily harm because of the withdrawal of his security details.”

The other defendants in the suit are the PDP, its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, the House of Representatives, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

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Tambuwal no longer entitled to security details -Adoke, IGP

Defection Saga: IGP breached the law - Tambuwal

By Emman Ovuakporie

ABUJA-THE speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal Thursday told the acting  Inspector General of Police, Sulaiman  Abba that he breached the law by ordering that his security details be withdrawn from his residence.

Aminu Tambuwal

In a statement issued and signed by his media aide, Malam Imam Imam  Tambuwal said he  received with shock and amazement the statement issued by the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters justifying the withdrawal of Police Security Personnel attached to the Hon Speaker, by the Acting Inspector General of Police.

In the said statement, the Force has stated to the effect that by his defection from the PDP to the APC, the Hon Speaker is in breach of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution and is consequently no longer entitled to police security. Nothing can be further from the truth.

The implication of the Inspector General of Police’s statement is that as sanction for this alleged constitutional breach, he has removed Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from office of Speaker House of Representatives.

For the avoidance of doubt the question of whether or not there is a division or faction in the PDP has been resolved by Lord Justice Faji of the Ilorin Division of Federal High Court in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/605/2013 in which the court held that indeed there were factions in the PDP.

Again in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/ 605/2013, the Sokoto Division of the Federal High Court per Justice Aikawa, the judgment of the court was that there was not only Division but faction in the PDP which later merged with the APC.

As the number four citizen in the hierarchy of protocol in the country,  the Speaker is entitled to security protection by the security agencies, therefore we see the action of the Acting Inspector General of Police as not only contempt of the courts but a ploy to bring harm to the person of Rt Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

We are on authority that nothing in the 1999 Constitution nor the Police Act confers on the police force adjudicatory powers including the interpretation of the constitution.

In any case even Section 215 of the 1999 Constitution does not contemplate the issuing of or compliance with unlawful orders by the President and or the the Inspector General of Police respectively.

What the Acting Inspectorr General of Police has done therefore has no basis in law including the 1999 Constitution which he has cited. It is a brazen act of crass impunity, gross Constitutional breach and contempt of court, The Inspector General should desist from assuming or usurping the constitutional functions of the Judiciary.

For the avoidance of doubt the Speaker of the House is elected by members from among themselves under Section 50(1) (b) of the constitution and vacates office under Section 50 (2) (a) (b) &(c), in the case of (c) by two-thirds majority of members of the House.

The Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution which refers to a member vacating his seat on grounds of defection, which the Inspector General of Police refers to,has a proviso which has been and still is a matter for judicial and not police interpretation.

We have faith and confidence in our judiciary and are persuaded that it cannot by stampeded into administering injustice.

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Defection Saga: IGP breached the law - Tambuwal

Police officers need attitudinal change - Abba

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has stated that all the reform programmes of successive governments failed to transform the police because they (reform programmes) did not focus on attitudinal change of policemen.

Abba Suleiman, New Inspector General of Police

The IG said of all the reform programmes implemented by various administrations, only that of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan government had made impact on the Force.

Abba, who said this in Abuja on Friday, during his maiden address to men and officers of the Force shortly after his predecessor, Mohammed Abubakar, handed over to him, noted that the missing link in the reform policies is the failure to change the attitude of the average police officer.

Abba said his team would also ensure that policing becomes truly intelligence-led and that enforcement and crime prevention initiatives are integrated and supportive of each other.

He said, “Of all the reforms embarked upon by the past governments, it is only that of the Yar’Adua/Goodluck administration that is working. We have seen the seven city programmes with the necessary equipment, we have seen tens of helicopters and other facilities in place.

“It is not the fault of those implementing or those that sat down and wrote the reform programmes, it is because one thing is missing, attitudinal change; the absence of attitudinal change in the Force is why the various reforms are not effective.”

Abba promised to build on the positive aspects that are firmly entrenched in the Force and to reinvigorate the areas where giant strides are expected, adding that he would do whatever is necessary to curb the excesses of violent criminals.

According to him, senior police officers would be held accountable for their actions and inactions, by means of performance contracts and indicators, with clear deliverables which he said will be closely monitored.

He said, “The recent upsurge in security challenges will have my full attention. I am committed to addressing these issues and reaffirm the high standards of performance for which the Nigeria Police is nationally and internationally acclaimed.

“In consonance with the President’s Transformation Agenda, I will develop and implement constructive policing strategies for the maintenance of a stable democracy and economic growth.”

The police boss said he would be guided by the needs and concerns of Nigerians; recognize and ensure the welfare of all Police officers; respect and protect human rights; cooperate with other security agencies and governments at all levels in the country, in order to achieve a safe and secure environment for everyone living in Nigeria.

He said, “My vision is to make the Nigeria Police Force a leading national, professional, and efficient law enforcement organization. A police force that is dynamic, robust and efficient; one that never rests or abdicate its professional duty; that studies and analyzes what works and what doesn’t, acknowledges and learns from its mistakes, and celebrates its victories.

“This is, indeed, our opportunity to redefine and rededicate our focus on our highest mission, which is to assuredly avail unfailing public safety service to the citizens of Nigeria. All aspects of our service will be centred on the values of Hardwork, Honesty and Humility –the triple H.”

Abubakar had described the day as his happiest, adding that he was indebted to everyone in the Force, particularly the rank and file. He described Abba as his younger brother whom “I guided through the Police.”

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Police officers need attitudinal change - Abba