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Police constables mainly for intelligence gathering, won’t bear arms – Lagos PPRO
None of the 1,250 special constabulary officers just deployed to boost security in different parts of Lagos will bear arms, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said.
He also said they would be mainly used for intelligence gathering for the regular police to carry out their work effectively.
He said, “For now, there is no provision for that. But everything in life is subject to change; maybe later there will be a law that will back that but for now, there is no provision for them to carry arms.” the PPRO stated
Adejobi spoke in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, adding that the officers deployed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, would be attached to divisional headquarters in all of the state’s 20 local government areas.
The constables were deployed as part of the Federal Government’s community policing initiative to combat crime and criminal activities.
The state police command’s spokesman said more constables would be trained to provide more support for the men of the command in the state.
Adejobi said, “They were mopped from all the local government councils in the state. The police assisted in training them and we had a passing out parade yesterday (Tuesday).
“They were trained for almost a month; they were in camp all through the Christmas and New Year season; there were no breaks at all for the one month because they had to finish the programmes. They will be deployed back to their various communities to boost policing in the areas.
“This is the first batch and more batches will be released as long as the state government is willing to assist in mopping them up and release logistics for training.”
He also spoke on the criteria used in the selection process, adding, “There were many criteria used in the selection but academic qualification was not the major thing. In fact, age was not a barrier. All we wanted were those who have mass knowledge of the demographical and geographical nature of their various areas; those who can help us in intelligence policing; those who can help us to have the physique, the stamina to do our job.
“The criteria for selecting them are different from the regular police because they are to complement us.”
“They were selected at various communities with the help of the Obas, the local government chairmen, community leaders, religious leaders, market leaders, youth wings, and all the stakeholders.
“They will be resuming at divisional headquarters in their areas under the various area commanders. They cannot work in isolation. And if at all, we want to go on operations, they can join us but majorly, they will be into intelligence gathering for us and other normal police duties we do, patrols and others.
“We are going to use them judiciously and they are going to be used for the purpose for which they have been recruited to assist the community policing project.”
Also, the Lagos State Government said it would be responsible for the salaries of the constables but said no salary figure had been fixed yet.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, told The PUNCH on Wednesday that some of the constables were drawn from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, Neighbourhood Corps.
“The state government will be responsible for the salaries of the constables but salary figure is not known yet.
“The constables were shortlisted from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, Neighbourhood Corps and a few civilians,” he said, adding that more constables would be recruited later in the future for the security coverage of the state.
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Reps pass bill to strip Vice President, governors, deputies of immunity
Reps pass bill to strip Vice President, governors, deputies of immunity
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed for second reading a constitutional amendment bill seeking to remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, Governors and their Deputies.
The lawmaker said the move is to curb corruption, curb immunity, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office.
The constitutional amendment Bill sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) reads: “A Bill for an act to alter the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to qualify the immunity conferred on the President, remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, the Governors and their Deputies, in order to curb corruption, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office and for Related Matters”.
Section 308 of the constitution confers immunity on the President, Vice President, Governors and their deputies, exempting them from criminal and civil prosecution while in office.
The House also passed for second reading, a constitutional amendment Bill to create a constitutional role for traditional rulers, while providing for the recognition of the advisory role for them in the constitution.
The two bills are part of the 42 on devolution of power, strengthening of institutions, state creation, traditional rulers citizenship, fundamental rights and objectives and local government passed by the House.
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On Tuesday, the House passed 39 constitutional alteration bills for second reading.
While passing a bill to provide for stronger measures and checks for the sustenance of autonomy of local government system in the country, it also passed for second reading another constitutional alteration bill seeking to remove local government as a tier of government constitutionally recognised and funded by the Federal Government.
The second bill sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) seeks to vest the creation and funding of local government on the states.
The House is also seeking to amend the constitution to review the framework for local government administration, establish a robust legal legal regime to strengthen administrative efficiency, promote transparency, accountability and deepen democratic practice in the local government.
On state creation, The Nation observed that a bill for the creation of Etiti State from the five South eastern States was again read for the second time even though similar bill was passed for second reading.
The bill for the creation of Etiti state sponsored by Amobi Ogah and four others was first passed for first reading on the July 11, 2025 while a second bill on the same subject matter sponsored by Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi was listed and passed for second reading on Tuesday.
Reps pass bill to strip Vice President, governors, deputies of immunity
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Businessman collapses in court during trial over $578,000 cash seizure
Businessman collapses in court during trial over $578,000 cash seizure
A businessman, Okorie Sunday, who was arrested on March 19 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with $578,000 in cash, collapsed in court during his trial on Wednesday, March 26.
Okorie appeared before the Federal High Court in Lagos, where his trial commenced at 8:30 AM. However, he collapsed just as the court registrar was about to re-read the charges against him.
Court officials and security personnel rushed to his aid, and proceedings were briefly halted.
Previously on Tuesday, Okorie had been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on four counts related to money laundering and a currency scam.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment before Justice Deinde Dipeolu.
After a brief agreement from both parties for a swift trial, Okorie was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to Wednesday.
During the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Okorie’s lawyer, Uche Okoronkwo, informed the court that his client wished to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.
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- Security forces disperse rioters on Abuja expressway
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The EFCC’s counsel, Chineye Okezie, confirmed that Okorie indeed wanted to plead guilty to the first two counts, and requested the withdrawal of the third and fourth counts. Justice Dipeolu agreed to the request and directed that the charges be re-read.
However, as the registrar began to read the charges, Okorie collapsed without warning. His wife and daughter, who were present in the courtroom, were visibly distraught, with both of them breaking into tears.
At the time of writing this report, Okorie had been rushed to a hospital for medical attention, and the proceedings were temporarily halted.
The arrest took place when Okorie arrived in Lagos from Johannesburg aboard South African Airways Flight SA60 on March 19.
Initially, he declared only $279,000 at the airport’s currency declaration desk. However, a routine search revealed an additional $299,000 concealed in multiple packages, bringing the total sum to $578,000.
Authorities also discovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 note among the undeclared funds.
The EFCC charged Okorie with violating Sections 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Sections 3(1)(a), 5(1)(b), and (2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Businessman collapses in court during trial over $578,000 cash seizure
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Fire guts Onitsha market, many shops, goods destroyed
Fire guts Onitsha market, many shops, goods destroyed
A night fire at the popular Iweka Road, near Ochanja market in Onitsha, Anambra State, destroyed shops and products worth millions of naira.
Our correspondent reported that the fire, which erupted at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday, destroyed many shops, reducing products and property to ashes.
Although the source of the fire has yet to be determined, it was said that it raged for several minutes before firefighters arrived, as some of the dealers had gone home.
Confirming the fire incident on Wednesday, the Anambra State Fire Service’s Media and Publicity Unit, commanded by state fire chief Chukwudi Chiketa, said it received a distress call at around 9.40 p.m. and quickly dispatched a crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment to the location.
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Chiketa said, “Anambra State Fire Service at about 9.40pm on Tuesday, March 25, received a distress call about a raging fire outbreak at the popular Iweka Road, close to Ochanja Market, Onitsha.
“Immediately, a crew of firemen and firefighting equipment was deployed to the scene of the fire outbreak. They fought gallantly and contained the incident, stopping the fire from further escalation.
“The incident affected four shops, and many others were saved in a two-storey building. These shops contained furniture materials such as leather, foam and others.
“The cause of the fire outbreak has not been ascertained. The crew of firemen withdrew from the incident’s scene at 03:05 (3.05am) of the next day, Wednesday 26th March.”
Fire guts Onitsha market, many shops, goods destroyed
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