Police constables mainly for intelligence gathering, won’t bear arms – Lagos PPRO – Newstrends
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Police constables mainly for intelligence gathering, won’t bear arms – Lagos PPRO

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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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Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

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Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

In Adamawa State, a policeman, Ibrahim Maizabuwa, has lost his life after he was beaten to death.

Two persons Ezekiel Kefas, and Stephen Zabadi from Wamsa Suwa Ward in Lamurde LGA of the state have been arrested in connection with the murder of a policeman.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that the suspects were arrested on November 19, 2024 after the deceased officer’s son, Danlami Ibrahim Maizabuwa, reported the incident to the Police.

According to him, investigations revealed that the officer was killed and buried in the community after visiting his friend, Ezekiel Kefas.

The Police image maker said during interrogation, Kefas claimed that the officer was killed by a group of thugs after he allegedly destroyed property and assaulted people in his (Kefas’) house.

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“My friend came and started destroying property including a pot of soup and water in my house and assaulting people as a result of which women and children raised alarm which attracted thugs who beat him up to death.

“Those who killed him include Yakubu, Suleiman and Kilyobas. They beat him up with sticks to death.

“Yesterday, we went to the houses of those who killed him, but we didn’t meet any of them,” Ezekiel was quoted as saying.

The State Police Commissioner, Morris Dankombo, has ordered a discreet investigation into the incident and prosecution of the suspects

 

Hoodlums beat police officer to death in Adamawa

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Alleged fraud: Court remands Yahaya Bello, others in EFCC custody

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Yahaya Bello

Alleged fraud: Court remands Yahaya Bello, others in EFCC custody

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama on Wednesday remanded the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

Trial Justice Maryann Anenih ordered that he should remain with the anti-graft agency till December 10, when the court will rule on his application for bail.

Equally remanded in custody were Bello’s two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge the EFCC preferred against them.

EFCC had specifically urged the court to deny the former governor bail.

The agency, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that Bello, who is the 1st defendant in the matter, repeatedly refused to make himself available for trial.

It told the court that several efforts to secure his presence before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, where he is facing another charge, proved abortive.

Consequently, the Commission opposed a bail application that Bello filed through his legal team that was led by a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN.

Daudu, SAN, had after the former governor and his two co-defendants—Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu—pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge the anti-graft agency preferred against them, drew the attention of the court to a bail application his client filed on November 22.

In the application he predicated on six grounds, the former governor argued that he enjoys the presumption of innocence under the law.

Insisting that he ought to be seen to be innocent of all the allegations the EFCC levelled against him until his guilt is established, Bello contended that granting him bail would enable him to effectively prepare his defence to the charge.

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His lawyer told the court that his client was only served with a copy of the charge against him around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26.

He said the former governor’s presence in court was in obedience to the summons that was issued to him.

More so, Bello’s lawyer urged the court not to be swayed by EFCC’s claims with regards to a matter not related to the instant charge before it.

The prosecution counsel had informed the court that some of the witnesses billed to testify in the matter were available.

He, therefore, prayed the court to allow the EFCC to open its case immediately, an application that was opposed by the defence counsel.

Besides, EFCC argued that Bello’s bail application was incompetent since it was filed before the defendants were arraigned before the court.

“This court only assumed jurisdiction upon the arraignment of the defendants.

“It is only after arraignment that the bail application can arise and be heard.

“The application is premature, hasty, and contradicts the meaning of bail,” EFCC’s counsel, Pinheiro, SAN, submitted.

Ex-governor Bello and his co-defendants are facing trial over their alleged complicity in a N110 billion fraud.

The charge against the defendants, marked CR/7781, borders on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).

Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million), Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams), Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million), and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).

More so, the defendants were accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.

The defendants pleaded their innocence to the charge after it was read to them before trial Justice Maryann Anenih.

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Police rearrest popular singer, Speed Darlington

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Speed Darlington

Police rearrest popular singer, Speed Darlington

Police rearrest popular singer, Speed Darlington

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