The EFCC has reacted and denied the pictures.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Disregard Fake Tweet on EFCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office Cell
These pictures purported to be the detention center of the Port Harcourt Office of the EFCC in a mischievous tweet by @TheRealDayne is fake.
The pictures in the tweet are strange to the EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Office.
That tweet is intended to mislead the public and the public is advised to discountenance it.
Thanks.
ishop Kukah: Buhari Has Promoted Tribalism, Religion In Military, Others
The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, on Tuesday hit the President, Major General Mohammed Buhari (retd.), hard.
The cleric assessed the Buhari regime and concluded the President had not only relegated the national interest to the background, he had also introduced nepotism to the military.
He said under Buhari, it was important for any Nigerian to be a northern Muslism before he could hold any strategic position.
Kukah stated this in his sermon at the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaukau in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State before the burial of Michael Nnadi, a seminarian, who was killed by kidnappers.
He recalled Buhari’s promise during the 2015 electioneering. He stated that while campaigning in 2015, Buhari said if he was elected, the world would not have to worry about insecurity in Nigeria.
Kukah said five years after, the President had brought nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies.
Buhari’s regime marked by divisive policies – Kukah
He stated that the Buhari’s regime had been marked by supremacist and divisive policies that pushed the country to the brink.
Quoting the President, Kukah said Buhari at Chatham House in London before 2015 elections, said, “I (Buhari) as a retired general and a former Head of State have always known about our soldiers. They are capable and they are well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty. If I am elected President, the world will have no reason to worry about Nigeria. Nigeria will return to its stabilizing role in West Africa.
“We will pay sufficient attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service. We will develop adequate and modern arms and ammunition. We will improve intelligence gathering and border patrols to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels. We will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development and promoting infrastructural development…we will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester. And I,Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front.”
Kukah, however, noted that the reverse was the case as the President continued to wallow in insensitivity and despotism.
Buhari has brought nepotism into military, says Kukah
The cleric stated, “No one in that hall or anywhere in Nigeria doubted the President who ran his campaign on a tank supposedly full of the fuel of integrity and moral probity. No one could have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies, that his government would be marked by supremacist and divisive policies that would push our country to the brink.
Buhari has subordinated Nigeria’s interests to his religion’s interest – Kukah
“This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our country’s rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women.
To hold strategic position, under Buhari, it’s important you’re northern Muslim – Kukah
“The impression created now is that to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian.”
He said the nation was at a crossroads and its future hung precariously in the balance.
Kukah stated, “Our nation is like a ship stranded on the high seas, rudderless and with broken navigational aids. Today, our years of hypocrisy, duplicity, fabricated integrity, false piety, empty morality, fraud and Pharisaism have caught up with us. Nigeria is at a crossroads and its future hangs precariously in the balance. This is a wakeup call for us.”
Says Nigeria, not worth dying for
The cleric said with the current situation, Nigeria was not worth dying for. He stated, “Nigeria is at a point where we must call for a verdict. There must be something that a man, nay, a nation should be ready to die for.
“Sadly, or even tragically, today, Nigeria, does not possess that set of goals or values for which any sane citizen is prepared to die for her. Perhaps, I should correct myself and say that the average office holder is ready to die to protect his office but not for the nation that has given him or her that office.
“The Yoruba say that if it takes you 25 years to practise madness, how much time would you have to put it into real life? We have practised madness for too long.”
Buhari has run most nepotistic and narcissistic government in Nigeria
He added that Buhari remained the only President in the history of the country that had run the “most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history.”
Kukah said, “Today, in Nigeria, the noble religion of Islam has convulsed. It has become associated with some of worst fears among our people. Muslim scholars, traditional rulers and intellectuals have continued to cry out helplessly, asking for their religion and region to be freed from this chokehold. This is because, in all of this, neither Islam nor the North can identify any real benefits from these years that have been consumed by the locusts that this government has unleashed on our country.
“The Fulani, his innocent kinsmen, have become the subject of opprobrium, ridicule, defamation, calumny and obloquy. His North has become one large graveyard, a valley of dry bones, the nastiest and the most brutish part of our dear country.
“Why have the gods rejected this offering? Despite running the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history, there are no answers to the millions of young children on the streets in northern Nigeria, the north still has the worst indices of poverty, insecurity, stunting, squalor and destitution.”
Kukah said the persecution of Christians in the North was as old as the modern Nigerian state.
He stated that Nigerians had been told that insecurity in the country had nothing to do with religion. He asked, “Really? It is what happens when politicians use religion to extend the frontiers of their ambition and power.
“Are we to believe that simply because Boko Haram kills Muslims too, they wear no religious garb? Are we to deny the evidence before us, of kidnappers separating Muslims from infidels or compelling Christians to convert or die?
“If your son steals from me, do you solve the problem by saying he also steals from you? Again, the Sultan (of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar) got it right: let the northern political elite who have surrendered the space claim it back immediately.”
Nnadi laid to rest
Meanwhile, amidst tears, the slain 18-year-old Seminarian, Nnadi, was laid to rest on Tuesday on the school premises at 1:30pm along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.
Nnadi was one of the four seminarians of the Good Shepherd Major Seminary School, Kaukau, abducted by bandits suspected to be kidnappers on the school premises.
Recall that the four students of the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, were abducted when heavily armed gunmen invaded their school at Kaukau in Chikun Local Government Area of the state along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on January 9, 2020.
Three weeks after the incident, the registrar of the school, Rev. Father Joel Usman, announced the release of the three of the students on Friday, January 31, 2020.
Those set free are Kanwai Pius, Stephen Amos John Paul, Umeanuka Peter. They are students of philosophy at the Seminary.
However, in less than 24 hours of the announcement of the release of the students, the registrar said the only missing student was found dead after all.
Kukah urged Christians to emulate the sternly quality of the late Michael Nnadi and Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi schoolgirl who had been held hostage by Boko Haram since 2018.
He said, “We know that Michael’s strength will inspire an army of young people to follow in his steps.
We will march on with the cross of Christ entrusted to us, not in agony or pain, because our salvation lies in your cross.
“We have no vengeance or bitterness in our hearts. We have no drop of sorrow inside us. We are honoured that our son has been summoned to receive the crown of martyrdom at the infancy of his journey to the priesthood. Leah Sharibu is a martyr for the faith and so is Michael.”
The PUNCH made failed attempts on Tuesday to get the Presidency’s reaction to Father Kuka’s criticism of the Buhari regime.
Neither the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, nor the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, responded to enquiries by the newspaper.
As of 9.35pm last night, there was still no response from the Presidential spokespersons.
The heads of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are all Northern Muslim men, as are the heads of the Nigerian Army, NPF, NSA, DSS, NIA, DMI, DIA, NPS, NCS, NIS, and EFCC.
Where is the ethnic and religious balance enshrined in the Federal Character Act 34 of 1996? That is why Nigeria is in shambles. All our institutions are collapsing. Because General @muhammadubuhari has enthroned tribalism and religious bigotry in place of merit. Those calling on General Buhari to sack the service chiefs for failure to perform, have no understanding. The service chiefs were not appointed to ensure National Security. They were appointed to ensure Buhari’s regime security and promote a sectional interest.
That is the only reason they have released 1400 so called ‘repentant’ Boko Haramists. In General Buhari’s eyes, they have been very successful at their job. How long can Nigeria continue like this?
THE last is yet to be heard about the recent seizure of over $8million by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, at the premises of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, as the alleged owner said the actual amount was $9million as against the total of $8.1 million declared by the Customs.
Vanguard also learnt that the owner has started reaching out to some people in the corridors of power for the release of the money.
Meanwhile, NAHCO Aviance, operators of the MMIA cargo handling services, has denied involvement in the matter, and said it is ready and willing to partner with Customs and other relevant government agencies interested in identifying the owner of the questionable money.
Findings by Vanguard Maritime Report also revealed that contrary to claim by the Customs that a suspect arrested in connection with the alleged movement of foreign currency is under its custody, impeccable sources disclosed that the said suspect has since been released following intervention by the owner of the money.
Our top impeccable source, who spoke with our reporter in confidence hinted that the issue is been sorted out between Customs and the owner of the money.
He said, “You can be doing your report but the money in question belongs to a VIP in the ruling party, what are you going to do to him?
“Let me tell you, the arrest was a mistake, the Customs has been contacted and the matter is being resolved amicably. Let me also tell you that he is saying his money is $9million; so there are issues, but it is being resolved. The press conference was not necessary, all the stakeholders are part of the government and people are not supposed to rock the boat.”
During a press briefing on the matter, Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, Rtd, said travellers are by law required to declare any physical cash in excess of $10,000 or it’s equivalent in any other currencies or monetary instruments”, adding the consignment which was packed in a coaster bus belonging to NAHCO Aviance was loaded in six bags and were found not to have been declared at any approved point of entry or exit where voluntary declarations are recorded and maintained.
“One suspect, the driver of the bus, Chimezie Okonkwo, was immediately arrested and taken into custody with the intercepted consignment. On Saturday, 18th of January, 2020, an inventory of the consignment was taken and was witnessed by representatives of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), Customs Intelligence Unit, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Unit, Customs Police and the suspect.
“At the end of the inventory, a total number of 20 sealed wraps of Bagco bags were opened, counted, re-sealed and re-wrapped under video coverage from the beginning of the exercise to the end, and the total amount intercepted stood at $8,065,612 only.
“The consignment remains in safe custody while preliminary investigations have commenced on the seizures.”
NCS said the matter have been transferred to the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, without giving a hint of the outcome of its investigation.
When the Customs Area Controller, MMIA Lagos, Comptroller Wale Adeniyi, was contacted for a reaction over claim of $9million and the release of the suspect, he said:
“The sum of $8,065,612 was intercepted. That was the amount announced by the CG. Suspect was arrested with the exhibit on Thursday 16 January. He was in our custody till Friday 24th January when he was transferred to Abuja.”
The heads of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are all Northern Muslim men, as are the heads of the Nigerian Army, NPF, NSA, DSS, NIA, DMI, DIA, NPS, NCS, NIS, and EFCC.
Where is the ethnic and religious balance enshrined in the Federal Character Act 34 of 1996? That is why Nigeria is in shambles. All our institutions are collapsing. Because General @muhammadubuhari has enthroned tribalism and religious bigotry in place of merit. Those calling on General Buhari to sack the service chiefs for failure to perform, have no understanding. The service chiefs were not appointed to ensure National Security. They were appointed to ensure Buhari’s regime security and promote a sectional interest.
That is the only reason they have released 1400 so called ‘repentant’ Boko Haramists. In General Buhari’s eyes, they have been very successful at their job. How long can Nigeria continue like this?
THE last is yet to be heard about the recent seizure of over $8million by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, at the premises of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, as the alleged owner said the actual amount was $9million as against the total of $8.1 million declared by the Customs.
Vanguard also learnt that the owner has started reaching out to some people in the corridors of power for the release of the money.
Meanwhile, NAHCO Aviance, operators of the MMIA cargo handling services, has denied involvement in the matter, and said it is ready and willing to partner with Customs and other relevant government agencies interested in identifying the owner of the questionable money.
Findings by Vanguard Maritime Report also revealed that contrary to claim by the Customs that a suspect arrested in connection with the alleged movement of foreign currency is under its custody, impeccable sources disclosed that the said suspect has since been released following intervention by the owner of the money.
Our top impeccable source, who spoke with our reporter in confidence hinted that the issue is been sorted out between Customs and the owner of the money.
He said, “You can be doing your report but the money in question belongs to a VIP in the ruling party, what are you going to do to him?
“Let me tell you, the arrest was a mistake, the Customs has been contacted and the matter is being resolved amicably. Let me also tell you that he is saying his money is $9million; so there are issues, but it is being resolved. The press conference was not necessary, all the stakeholders are part of the government and people are not supposed to rock the boat.”
During a press briefing on the matter, Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, Rtd, said travellers are by law required to declare any physical cash in excess of $10,000 or it’s equivalent in any other currencies or monetary instruments”, adding the consignment which was packed in a coaster bus belonging to NAHCO Aviance was loaded in six bags and were found not to have been declared at any approved point of entry or exit where voluntary declarations are recorded and maintained.
“One suspect, the driver of the bus, Chimezie Okonkwo, was immediately arrested and taken into custody with the intercepted consignment. On Saturday, 18th of January, 2020, an inventory of the consignment was taken and was witnessed by representatives of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), Customs Intelligence Unit, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Unit, Customs Police and the suspect.
“At the end of the inventory, a total number of 20 sealed wraps of Bagco bags were opened, counted, re-sealed and re-wrapped under video coverage from the beginning of the exercise to the end, and the total amount intercepted stood at $8,065,612 only.
“The consignment remains in safe custody while preliminary investigations have commenced on the seizures.”
NCS said the matter have been transferred to the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, without giving a hint of the outcome of its investigation.
When the Customs Area Controller, MMIA Lagos, Comptroller Wale Adeniyi, was contacted for a reaction over claim of $9million and the release of the suspect, he said:
“The sum of $8,065,612 was intercepted. That was the amount announced by the CG. Suspect was arrested with the exhibit on Thursday 16 January. He was in our custody till Friday 24th January when he was transferred to Abuja.”
ishop Kukah: Buhari Has Promoted Tribalism, Religion In Military, Others
The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, on Tuesday hit the President, Major General Mohammed Buhari (retd.), hard.
The cleric assessed the Buhari regime and concluded the President had not only relegated the national interest to the background, he had also introduced nepotism to the military.
He said under Buhari, it was important for any Nigerian to be a northern Muslism before he could hold any strategic position.
Kukah stated this in his sermon at the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaukau in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State before the burial of Michael Nnadi, a seminarian, who was killed by kidnappers.
He recalled Buhari’s promise during the 2015 electioneering. He stated that while campaigning in 2015, Buhari said if he was elected, the world would not have to worry about insecurity in Nigeria.
Kukah said five years after, the President had brought nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies.
Buhari’s regime marked by divisive policies – Kukah
He stated that the Buhari’s regime had been marked by supremacist and divisive policies that pushed the country to the brink.
Quoting the President, Kukah said Buhari at Chatham House in London before 2015 elections, said, “I (Buhari) as a retired general and a former Head of State have always known about our soldiers. They are capable and they are well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty. If I am elected President, the world will have no reason to worry about Nigeria. Nigeria will return to its stabilizing role in West Africa.
“We will pay sufficient attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service. We will develop adequate and modern arms and ammunition. We will improve intelligence gathering and border patrols to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels. We will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development and promoting infrastructural development…we will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester. And I,Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front.”
Kukah, however, noted that the reverse was the case as the President continued to wallow in insensitivity and despotism.
Buhari has brought nepotism into military, says Kukah
The cleric stated, “No one in that hall or anywhere in Nigeria doubted the President who ran his campaign on a tank supposedly full of the fuel of integrity and moral probity. No one could have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies, that his government would be marked by supremacist and divisive policies that would push our country to the brink.
Buhari has subordinated Nigeria’s interests to his religion’s interest – Kukah
“This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our country’s rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women.
To hold strategic position, under Buhari, it’s important you’re northern Muslim – Kukah
“The impression created now is that to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian.”
He said the nation was at a crossroads and its future hung precariously in the balance.
Kukah stated, “Our nation is like a ship stranded on the high seas, rudderless and with broken navigational aids. Today, our years of hypocrisy, duplicity, fabricated integrity, false piety, empty morality, fraud and Pharisaism have caught up with us. Nigeria is at a crossroads and its future hangs precariously in the balance. This is a wakeup call for us.”
Says Nigeria, not worth dying for
The cleric said with the current situation, Nigeria was not worth dying for. He stated, “Nigeria is at a point where we must call for a verdict. There must be something that a man, nay, a nation should be ready to die for.
“Sadly, or even tragically, today, Nigeria, does not possess that set of goals or values for which any sane citizen is prepared to die for her. Perhaps, I should correct myself and say that the average office holder is ready to die to protect his office but not for the nation that has given him or her that office.
“The Yoruba say that if it takes you 25 years to practise madness, how much time would you have to put it into real life? We have practised madness for too long.”
Buhari has run most nepotistic and narcissistic government in Nigeria
He added that Buhari remained the only President in the history of the country that had run the “most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history.”
Kukah said, “Today, in Nigeria, the noble religion of Islam has convulsed. It has become associated with some of worst fears among our people. Muslim scholars, traditional rulers and intellectuals have continued to cry out helplessly, asking for their religion and region to be freed from this chokehold. This is because, in all of this, neither Islam nor the North can identify any real benefits from these years that have been consumed by the locusts that this government has unleashed on our country.
“The Fulani, his innocent kinsmen, have become the subject of opprobrium, ridicule, defamation, calumny and obloquy. His North has become one large graveyard, a valley of dry bones, the nastiest and the most brutish part of our dear country.
“Why have the gods rejected this offering? Despite running the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history, there are no answers to the millions of young children on the streets in northern Nigeria, the north still has the worst indices of poverty, insecurity, stunting, squalor and destitution.”
Kukah said the persecution of Christians in the North was as old as the modern Nigerian state.
He stated that Nigerians had been told that insecurity in the country had nothing to do with religion. He asked, “Really? It is what happens when politicians use religion to extend the frontiers of their ambition and power.
“Are we to believe that simply because Boko Haram kills Muslims too, they wear no religious garb? Are we to deny the evidence before us, of kidnappers separating Muslims from infidels or compelling Christians to convert or die?
“If your son steals from me, do you solve the problem by saying he also steals from you? Again, the Sultan (of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar) got it right: let the northern political elite who have surrendered the space claim it back immediately.”
Nnadi laid to rest
Meanwhile, amidst tears, the slain 18-year-old Seminarian, Nnadi, was laid to rest on Tuesday on the school premises at 1:30pm along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway.
Nnadi was one of the four seminarians of the Good Shepherd Major Seminary School, Kaukau, abducted by bandits suspected to be kidnappers on the school premises.
Recall that the four students of the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, were abducted when heavily armed gunmen invaded their school at Kaukau in Chikun Local Government Area of the state along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on January 9, 2020.
Three weeks after the incident, the registrar of the school, Rev. Father Joel Usman, announced the release of the three of the students on Friday, January 31, 2020.
Those set free are Kanwai Pius, Stephen Amos John Paul, Umeanuka Peter. They are students of philosophy at the Seminary.
However, in less than 24 hours of the announcement of the release of the students, the registrar said the only missing student was found dead after all.
Kukah urged Christians to emulate the sternly quality of the late Michael Nnadi and Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi schoolgirl who had been held hostage by Boko Haram since 2018.
He said, “We know that Michael’s strength will inspire an army of young people to follow in his steps.
We will march on with the cross of Christ entrusted to us, not in agony or pain, because our salvation lies in your cross.
“We have no vengeance or bitterness in our hearts. We have no drop of sorrow inside us. We are honoured that our son has been summoned to receive the crown of martyrdom at the infancy of his journey to the priesthood. Leah Sharibu is a martyr for the faith and so is Michael.”
The PUNCH made failed attempts on Tuesday to get the Presidency’s reaction to Father Kuka’s criticism of the Buhari regime.
Neither the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, nor the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, responded to enquiries by the newspaper.
As of 9.35pm last night, there was still no response from the Presidential spokespersons.
Ighalo Set To Feature United squad for Chelsea clash
Manchester United forward Odion Ighalo will be in the squad for Monday’s Premier League game at Chelsea, says manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ighalo missed the club’s training camp in Spain due to fears the coronavirus outbreak may have led to him being refused entry back into the UK.
The Nigerian, 30, joined United on loan from Shanghai Shenhua on 31 January.
“We want to integrate him as quickly as we can because he is desperate to play for us,” Solskjaer said.
“He is going to travel with us [to Stamford Bridge]. We will just see on his fitness work this week and I think we will get him sharp.”
The former Watford forward moved to the Chinese Super League in 2017, first with Changchun Yatai.
After two seasons he moved to Shanghai Shenhua and has scored 10 times in 19 games.
Ighalo’s form for his country has been impressive, finishing as top scorer in African Cup of Nations qualifying with seven goals, before scoring five at the tournament during the summer
owever, he last played on 6 December, when he came on as a substitute in Shanghai Shenhua’s 3-0 victory over Shandong Luneng in the Chinese FA Cup final.
Assault of Amotekun Officers Will Attract N250,000 fine or jail term
Assaulting an Amotekun officer will attract a fine of N250,000 or a prison term of one month or both.
However, an Amotekun officer cannot be sued for whatever he does in the course of duty but only what he does in his personal capacity.
This is according to the Ekiti State Security Network Agency Bill 2020 which has been submitted to the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
Other South-West governors have submitted similar bills to their respective houses of assembly.
Section 36 of the bill states, “Any person who willfully hinders, delays, obstructs or assaults a member of the Ekiti State Amotekun Corps in the course of the exercise of his lawful duties under this law shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of one month or to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand naira only (N250,000.0 or to both such fine and imprisonment.”
The bill further states that the security organisation must be headed by a retired law enforcement agent who is not lower than the rank of Major or its equivalent in any other security agency.
Section 14 reads in part, “There shall be appointed by the governor, a corps commander for the agency, who shall be a retired law enforcement officer or military officer not below the rank of a major or its equivalent in other security services.
“The corps commander shall be a person with at least 10 years cognate experience in security matters; (b) be responsible for the day-to-day running of the affairs of the Ekiti State Amotekun Corps and implementation of the decisions of the board; (c) hold meetings with his counterparts in other states, particularly Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states on a quarterly basis or as may be collectively determined by the corps commanders in those dates.”
The bill also provides for the establishment of an Amotekun board which is expected to meet not less than four times a year.
The bill will comprise the Commissioner of Police in the state and representatives of other military representatives.
Section 6 reads in part, “There is established for the agency a governing board (referred to in this law as the board). The board shall comprise: a chairman, who shall be a person of proven integrity with experience in security matters and shall be a retired law enforcement or military officer not below the rank of a Major or its equivalent in the other security services; the commissioner of police in the state or his/her representative; one member representing the different services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria operating in the state; the state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state or his/her representative; the Executive Secretary, Ekiti State Security Trust Fund or his/her representative; one representative each of the Community Development Associations drawn from the three senatorial zones the state; the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers or his representative; the Ekiti State Amotekun Corps Commander.”
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda, on Tuesday called for comments from members of the public on the bill for the enabling law for the establishment of Amotekun corps.
Fapohunda said the state Ministry of Justice posted the bill on its website on Monday to enable Ekiti residents and other stakeholders to view it and make comments.
The AG said “Deadline for the submission of comments is Wednesday, 12 February, 2020, at midnight.
The bill, which the AG presented to the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Monday, will be discussed at the State Executive Council on Wednesday (today).
The ministry stated that Amotekun Corps would also “ensure that all persons travelling along the highways, major roads, remote areas, are free to participate in their normal social and economic life without hindrance” and as well “assist the police to carry out any other lawful activity for maintaining law and order in the state”.
However, the Osun State House of Assembly says it has not officially received the bill for Amotekun.
The Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, said this on Tuesday. Speaking through his Press Secretary, Kunle Alabi, Owoeye said the parliament was however expecting the bill “any moment from now.”
But one of our correspondents learnt Osun State Executive Council extensively discussed the bill in its weekly meeting on Monday.
In the same vein, the Oyo State House of Assembly said on Tuesday that the bill on Amotekun was being expected to be transmitted to the House from the executive, adding that the passage of the bill would be prioritised.
The Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Abiodun Fadeyi, said, “In Oyo State, the transmission of the bill from the executive arm to the state assembly should happen in due course. We still have between now and 12pm on Friday before we can say that the bill fails to arrive as scheduled.”
Also, the Ondo State House of Assembly has declared that it was in support of the Operation Amotekun security outfit in the South-West, but it had not received the bill to legalise it from the executive.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kola Olawoye, had earlier said the report of the bill had been presented to the governor after which it would be sent to the State Executive Council for deliberation and approval and thereafter it would be sent to the House of Assembly.
The House Committee Chairman on Information, Mr Gbenga Omole, however, said the House was on recess and had not received any bill from the state governor.
Omole said, “We are currently on recess and we will resume on February 24 ( 202 but in spite of that we are yet to receive the bill as I am talking to you now (Tuesday).”
