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Oyo jailbreak: You have no power to install CCTV in prison, Aregbesola to Makinde
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Wednesday, advised Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, to jettison the idea of installing security cameras in Abolongo prison, just as the governor disclosed aftermath the attack on the custodial centre.
Aregbesola’s reaction, came on the heels of the visit of the governor to the custodial centre, to assess its level of damage, following the attack of gunmen on the prison located in Oyo town that led to escape of not less that five hundred inmates.
Vanguard recalled that Makinde had, during a visit, promised that his government would take immediate steps to protect the facility.
The governor, while speaking after an inspection of the attacked centre during the weekend, said that he has ordered that the main road leading to the facility be immediately graded.
He had also promised to install security cameras in the facility and link same with the security situation room in the state.
Reacting on an Ibadan-based private radio station on Wednesday and monitored by Vanguard, Aregbesola’s media adviser, Sola Fasure, said that: “With due regard to Governor Makinde, I am sure if the governor has such power that something of such nature should be done in a correctional facility.”
“It would be taken as an advisory opinion. In the spirit of the moment, everybody is so concerned as some statement would be made but not necessarily because they are the right one to be made.”
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“There is an ongoing upgrade programmes of all correctional facility in the country. It is unfortunate it has not got to Abolongo before the incident happened. As you are aware, more per cent of all inmates in correctional facility are awaiting trial. That really creates problem for accommodation.”
“So the federal government is building a 3000-capacity facility in the 6 geo-political zones. Two are almost ready-the ones in Abuja and Kano. Each facility will have its own court. So the problem of taking suspects to court will be sorted.”
“But what we need more than anything else is for state government, because 99 per cent of most offenders are state offenders. They are the one awaiting trials and occupying most of the spaces.”
“The federal government had proposed at a time that they should build holding centers that the NCS will help them staff and manage. And then to accelerate the wheel of justice so that justice will be quickly dispensed. So that we don’t have awaiting inmates facing trial in custody for long.”
“The state government can help tremendously along this line, building holding centers and accelerating the wheel of justice. The lawyers use adjournment to frustrate justices. The state government can actually do a review and eliminate adjournment so that justice will be quickly delivered.”
“The upgrade of the facility is ongoing and it will get to every facility in the country where modern facility will be installed. So what we need, more than anything, is decongestion, especially of the awaiting trial inmates which falls within jurisdiction of state government.”
“If the state government wants to help, no problem. At least, every assistance would be appreciated. I am just making clarification. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t direct another agency on what to do. That is what I am trying to say.”
“The issue of the upgrade of facility is squarely within the jurisdiction of the ministry of interior and the NCS. State government do not have holding centers of correctional facility.”
“But like I said the other time, if the state governments want to assist, they will make their intention known to the appropriate authorities. And the help will be greatly appreciated,” he said.
Vanguard
News
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
Chairman of the Senate Services Sunday Karimi has hailed President Bola Tinubu for the decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
He told reporters on Friday in Abuja that the President acted in the best interest of the State and Nigeria, having taken his decision in compliance with the Constitution.
“No President or government worth a name, will fold its arms and watch a political situation deteriorate to what we saw unfolding in Rivers State.
“We saw that bombing of pipelines had begun, and the security situation was getting worse with the tension everywhere”, Karimi stated.
Karimi, who represents Kogi-West on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalled the “fatherly role” Tinubu had played in the crisis since 2023 in a bid to get the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reach an understanding, to no avail.
He explained: “We were all here in 2023 when Mr President called that truce meeting at the Aso Rock Villa. There was the eight-point agenda for settlement reached between the factions.
“When Nigerians expected that progress should be made to achieve peace, things started deteriorating considerably to a point where the governor demolished the House of Assembly building and administered the state with only three legislators.”
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Karimi observed that with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which gave the upper hand to the 27 lawmakers loyal to the camp of the FCT Minister, matters merely got worse in the State as the lawmakers were set to impeach the Governor.
“What did you expect would be the implications? There would have been more destruction, killings and economic losses for the country.
“With the bombings that had already started, it was a matter of time before the whole state would be engulfed in flames. No responsible President would sit, arms folded, and allow that to happen “ he added.
The senator further argued that it took “painstaking efforts” by the administration to raise daily crude oil production to around 1,800 barrels, noting that Nigeria’s economy was already “witnessing a rebound under the renewed hope projects of the government.”
“Allowing the situation in Rivers to get worse before he would act, wouldn’t have helped the state or Nigeria as a country in any way.
“Mr. President intervened at the right time, and his actions are covered by law,” he said.
Karimi also spoke on the emergency declaration in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and a couple of other states by former President Goodluck Jonathan without removing the Governors from office or suspending the state assemblies.
According to him, the case with those States was not generated by political crises but rather security concerns.
“So, I will advise those comparing the two scenarios to remember that one was purely about security threats resulting from the insurgency caused by Boko Haram, while that of Rivers is clearly political.
“It was the proper thing to do to suspend the political actors in the two factions to allow for tensions to diffuse. Nigerians should appreciate the President for the action he has taken so far,” he stated.
Sen. Karimi also noted that there was no cause for alarm as the National Assembly had indicated that the emergency rule could be reviewed as soon as there were signs that things could quickly normalise in Rivers State.
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
News
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibas
Just in: Tinubu swears in Rivers Sole Administrator Ibok-ete Ibas
President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (Retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The administrator was sworn in on Wednesday after a short meeting with the President.
Tinubu announced the appointment of the retired naval chief at a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly members.
The President said his decision was based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking concrete action.
The suspension of Fubara and other elected representatives has been rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, groups such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Nigerian Bar Association.
However, the emergency rule has been praised by the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, accusing Fubara of contravening the Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the state.
Ibas was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.
He is from Cross River State where he had his early education.
The new sole administrator went to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 from where he proceeded to have a successful career in the Navy, rising through the ranks to the very top.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff conferred him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.
News
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
Breaking: Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the protracted political crisis in the state.
Tinubu made the declaration during a nationwide broadcast, saying it is for six months.
He announced the suspension of the Executive Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months.
He immediately named an administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retd), to take charge of the affairs of the state for the six-month period.
Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.
A state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety. (Channels TV)
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