Crime
Campaign: Police ban quasi-security outfits in Borno
The Police Command in Borno has banned the engagement of quasi-security outfits by political parties and their candidates for electioneering campaign in the state.
The Commisioner of Police, Mr Abdu Umar stated this during a monthly Police Officers’ Conference in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
He said the measure was imperative to ensure peaceful and violent free electioneering campaigns and other political related activities ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
He charged the Police Divisional Officers (DPOs) and heads of other police formations to liase with local council officials, community leaders and leadership of political parties to create awareness and ensure compliance with the ban.
“As you return to your formations and divisions, overhaul deployments to dominate the public space and enhance visibility in policing, design action plans for security coverage of venues of political campaigns and enforced the ban on the use of quasi-security outfits,” he said.
Umar said the Force would ensure compliance to the electoral laws, fair play, traffic and crowd management at the venues of campaigns, rallies and other political activities.
According to him, the conference is to review security architecture to conform with the evolving political programmes set out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Umar said the meeting was also to enable the police officers to interact on measures towards guaranteeing a crime-free and enabling environment for the political campaigns and electoral processes.
“Recall that the INEC, in compliance with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, confirmed that electioneering campaigns officially commenced Sept. 28, 2022.
“From this time forward, politically related offences may begin to manifest, hence the need for intensive security coverage by the Police being the lead security agency in political process.
“To achieve our election security mandate, there is the need for us all not to rest on our oars.
“The Electoral Act, the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Personnel on Election Duty remains our watch-word.
“The Police as a critical stakeholder in the election process, outcome of the credible election will be measured by the extent to which we abide by the professional and legal standards,” he said.
While reiterating commitment of the command to protect lives and property, Umar urged political parties and their candidates to shun vulgar language and acts capable of disrupting relative peace in the state.
He further tasked the personnel of the Command to maintain cordial relationship with members of the public, adding that the police needed the support of the citizenry to enable it to discharge its constitutional mandate.
Hearing in two separate money laundering suits filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against British national, James Nolan, could not proceed on Wednesday at a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The matter, which was scheduled for adoption of final written addresses of parties by Justice Donatus Okorowo, suffered setback due to failure of Nolan’s counsel, Michael Ajara, to file and serve his processes on the EFCC”s lawyer, Bala Sanga.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Okorowo had, on Nov. 20, 2023, fixed today for adoption of the final addresses after Nolan, who jumped bail and fled Nigeria in the alleged 9.6 billion dollars Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Ltd scandal, opened his defence in absentia without calling any witness.
Ajara had told the judge that he did not intend to call any witness upon resumed hearing in the matter in the last adjourned date.
He said after his evaluation of the EFCC’s evidence, he would rely on the case of the prosecution and Sanga did not object, upon which the matter was fixed for today.
When the matter was called on Wednesday, Ajara had not filed their final written address.
The lawyer prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him do the needful.
The anti-graft agency’s lawyer, Christie Makar, who held Sanga’s brief, did not oppose the oral application.
Justice Okorowo consequently adjourned the matter until May 6 for adoption of final written addresses.
NAN reports that the EFCC is prosecuting Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited and Nolan in the charged marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/272/2022 as 1st and 2nd defendants in the case.
Also, the commission is also prosecuting the sister case marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2022 filed against Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd, another company, and Corrado Fantoli as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively before Okorowo.
Fantoli, also a foreigner and an associate of Nolan, was one of the suspects behind the alleged $9.6 billion P&ID fraud.
The suspect, said to be at large, alongside the company, was arraigned in absentia on Nov. 25, 2022, on eight-count money laundering charge.
He was not present in court or represented by a lawyer when they were arraigned.
The court also declared him wanted and ordered for his arrest anywhere he is sighted after Sanga made application to the effect.
Fantoli and Giovanna Beccarelli, who had also been declared wanted and an arrest warrant issued against her, were said to be directors and signatories to the company’s Guaranty Trust Bank account number: 0123849451.
Resorts Express Concept Nigeria Ltd and Trinity Biotech Nigeria Limited are two of the over 30 companies associated with the $9.6 billion scam.
NAN reports that other cases linked to the scandal are currently before Justice Ahmed Mohammed, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, Justice Zainab Abubakar of FHC, Abuja, besides other charges at FCT High Courts.
A Business and Property Court in London presided over by Justice Robin Knowles of the Commercial Courts of England and Wales had, in October, quashed the 11 billion dollars awarded against Nigeria in a case filed by the P&ID.
Judge Knowles held that the award was obtained by fraud and that what had happened in the case was contrary to public policy.
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, and the Nigerien Air Force on Tuesday eliminated scores of terrorists and destroyed their hideouts in Damasak and Mobbar local government areas of Borno State.
A statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information of NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the interdictions were under the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF.
Gabkwet said the terrorists had attempted to attack troops of Sector 4 of the MNJTF at Lada, a border town between Niger Republic and Nigeria, and subsequently fled across the border into Nigeria.
He further stated that they were observed hibernating in the village with their motorcycles hidden under trees.
“Subsequently, airstrikes from the Air Component of OPHK and Nigerien Air Force, under the watchful eye of Niger’s Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, struck the terrorists’ locations.
“Real-time ISR footage later confirmed numerous terrorists were eliminated and several structures within the targeted areas destroyed.
“It has also led to the reduction in terrorism and other forms of cross-border crimes perpetrated by criminals crisis-crossing the borders to evade justice,” he added.
Yahaya Bello: Court orders EFCC boss, Olukoyede to appear over alleged contempt
Tinubu appoints heads of NESREA, NDRBDA
FBN Holdings share price gain N1.85, as investors renew interest
Court orders Sen. Victor Umeh to repay N136m bank debt to AMCON
UNDP, FG partnership needed to achieve inclusion, equity- Minister
Banks drive stock market performance with N147bn gain
-
Finance3 months ago
Court orders Sen. Victor Umeh to repay N136m bank debt to AMCON
-
Abuja Update2 months agoUNDP, FG partnership needed to achieve inclusion, equity- Minister
-
Abuja Update1 month ago
Banks drive stock market performance with N147bn gain
-
Health1 week ago
Capacity training will reduce migration of health workers- NPHCDA
-
Infotech4 weeks ago
World Backup Day: NITDA urges Nigerians to ensure backup of data
-
capital market2 years ago
Rt.briscoe, FBNH, Others halts negative performance of stock market
-
Health3 weeks ago
Immunisation: FG, GAVI seek synergy with Sokoto Govt.
-
Infotech2 weeks ago
Forex for Beginners: Unveiling the currency exchange and how to trade it
