By Our Correspondent

In a bid to rid Rivers stata of criminality, Rivers State Police Command has announced the dismissal of four police officers involved in the killing of a 22-year-old graduate, Anthony Obodo in Port Harcourt.

Anthony Obodo, a fresh graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, awaiting NYSC call-up was killed on Thursday August 27 by a Trigger-happy Police Officer, Louis Alfred at the Agip/Ada-George area of Port Harcourt, after being chased by a patrol team led by Fabian Kpeanebari, attached to Agip Police Division.

The incident sparked tension across the state with youth shutting down section of Agip Road, and Rundele axis of the East West Road on Friday, Saturday and Monday in protest, demanding justice for the murdered Anthony Obodo.

Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, said the officers involved in incident have been arrested and undergoing disciplinary actions.

CP Adepoju also announced the arrest of 14 suspected members of ‘one chance’ robbery syndicates operating in Port Harcourt and environs, by operatives of the Command.

Giving details of the incident, CP Adepoju said “Anthony Obodo died following a police pursuit and shooting by a patrol team.

“During the pursuit, Corporal Alfred Louis, who is attached to the patrol team, opened fire at the vehicle and a bullet hit the driver identified as Anthony A. Obodo ‘M’ who sustained gunshot injury,” he said.

According to the Commissioner, the victim was immediately rushed to Palmer’s Hospital, Port Harcourt, where he was later confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

Adepoju stated that “the three members of the patrol team were immediately arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Port Harcourt, where a comprehensive investigation was carried out. Efforts were also intensified to arrest Inspector Solomon Nwrogu, who reportedly absconded after the incident.

He said that the dismissed officers, including the one at large, will subsequently be charged to court to face criminal prosecution in accordance with the law.

He posited that the Command remains committed to professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights, adding that no officer found to have acted outside the law will be shielded.

“Following the conclusion of the investigation and the establishment of the culpability of the officers involved, they have been tried in orderly room and recommended for dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.

“This action demonstrates that the Nigeria Police Force will not shield personnel who abuse the powers entrusted to them or act contrary to the law and professional standards of the Force. Let me reiterate that no police officer is above the law,” Adepoju said.

Speaking further on the crackdown on ‘one chance’ robbery in the state, the CP said the Command arrested 14 suspects following sustained intelligence-led operations by the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU.

He said one of the suspects, Identified as Idakiniselegha during interrogation, confessed to being part of a five-man syndicate and revealed the existence of another four-man syndicate operating along Garrison, Aba Road, Rumuola, Air Force, Rumuokwurusi, Obiri-Ikwerre and Choba axes of the state, terrorising residents.

The CP added that one Matthew identified as a member of the Iceland cult group and the ring leader of a syndicate operating around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba and NTA Road was also arrested by operatives of the Command.

Adepoju said exhibits recovered from the suspects include one Keke mini-bus with registration number RGM 823XE, black and white in colour, and sixteen assorted mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims.

He further disclosed that investigation revealed that Idakiniselegha specialized in extracting SIM cards from victims and using them to facilitate unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts.

“Efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the syndicates, dismantle their network, identify and trace their victims and recover other proceeds of crime in their custody,” he said.

The CP assured residents that tactical and investigative units have been directed to sustain operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks responsible for one-chance robbery, kidnapping, armed robbery and cult-related activities across the state.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, vehicles and incidents of police misconduct through appropriate channels, and to avoid taking the law into their own hands.

“The Rivers State Police Command under my leadership remains committed to professionalism, accountability, transparency, respect for human rights and service to the people,” Adepoju said.

By Our Correspondent

The House of Representatives Committee probing the Unestablished Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council PFIPC has absolved the Chief of Staff to the President Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila of any wrong doing in the allegation that he approved the existence of the agency.

The panel said all available documents to it had revealed that the Chief of
Staff to the President immediately alerted all relevant security agencies of the existence of the agency as soon as he got information on its existence and the appointment letter of the embattled Director-General of the agency was not signed by the office holder.

The Committee however did not exonerate the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSFG of the allegation that its official approved the federal secretariat office complex if the agency

The panel also said that it has uncovered an additional twelve (12) other existing fake agencies with existing bank accounts in the course of its investigation into the activities of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and the Presidential Economic Council.

Chairman of the House Committee Hon.Yusuf Adamu Gagdi disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a press briefing at the National Assembly where he said that the report of the committee is based on records, oral testimonies and interview of the heads of agencies involved in the saga

He said that the Committee held very painstaking investigative hearings on the matter with a view to unraveling the truth adding that the report is a preliminary report and not a final report on the matter.

The Plataeu born lawmaker had hinted that the House Committee had invited and grilled the heads of government agencies and other government officials from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSFG, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, State House, Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Police Force NPF, Department of State Service DSS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC for the investigation

The other agencies grilled by the House Committee are Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC, Federal Roads Safety Commission FRSC, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation OSFG, other institutions and private organizations

The House Committee had stated in its report that none of these agencies invited and grilled at the hearings had presented documents showing the authorzied existence of the controversial agency.

It however revelealed that some of these invited agencies presented inconsistent documents to the committee during the probe panel.

The Committee had stated that the documents presented by the embattled Director-General of the agency Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi is fake as no such appointment was approved by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The Committee also said that there is a fabrication of take-off funds documents of the agency that is also fake

They added that the format and administrative feature of the appointment letter alleged to have been issued by one Mr Akanbi iAdewale the Director of Administration Support Services State House is fake as the office is non existent from their inquiries

The House panel listed the other fake agencies as United Nations Youths Agency, United Nations Global Foundation, World Entrepreneurship University Limited, World Enterprises Limited, FCT Investigation Council and Olubafan of Ibadan Foundation among others.

The House Committee Chairman said that all these fake agencies and they have fifty-eigjt (58) bank accounts linked to Bank Verification Numbers BVN adding that they are linked to the embattled Director-General of the agency.

The probe panel said that it took exception to the non-appearance of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation OSFG at the investigative hearing despite repeated invitations and warned that it has been given one more opportunity to appear Unfailingly or risk sanctions.

The House Committee Chairman Hon.Gagdi said that the panel is still investigating the matter with these entities and assured that final report will be presented to the House in session at the conclusion of the investigation.

By Uthman Baba-Naseer,Minna

The Nigeria Customs Service says it is working closely with the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) and other security agencies to stop the movement of illegal arms and ammunition into Nigeria.

The Controller of the Niger/Kogi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Sani Mohammed Umar, stated this in Minna while handing over 7,560 packages of live ammunition containing 189,000 rounds to the NCCSALW for further action.

Umar said the ammunition had been kept at the Customs premises since 2018 because of court cases and other legal processes.

He said Customs officers intercepted the consignment while on patrol around the Wawa axis of Niger State, close to the border, following information about the movement of the ammunition.

According to him, each of the 7,560 packages contained 25 rounds, making a total of 189,000 rounds of ammunition.

The Controller said the suspect connected with the consignment escaped and was still at large, but the Customs Service was making efforts to arrest him.

He said allowing such a large quantity of ammunition to enter the society illegally could have serious consequences, especially because of the security challenges facing the country.

Umar said the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, had directed officers to remain vigilant and strengthen operations along the borders to prevent the illegal movement of arms and ammunition.

He added that the Customs Service would continue to cooperate with other security agencies to prevent illegal arms from reaching criminal groups.

Also speaking, the Director of the NCCSALW North Central Zone, Abdul Adamu Eneche, commended the Customs Service for its cooperation and for handing over the seized ammunition.

Eneche, who represented the Director General of the Centre, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, said the ammunition would go through the required process before being destroyed.

He said the destruction would ensure that the ammunition did not return to the society or fall into the hands of criminals.

Eneche described the cooperation between the Customs Service and the Centre as important in the fight against the spread of small arms and light weapons.

He called on other security agencies to strengthen their cooperation with the NCCSALW, saying no single agency could successfully fight illegal arms trafficking alone.

He said the availability of illegal arms and ammunition was contributing to terrorism, kidnapping, insurgency, communal clashes and other criminal activities in the country.

The NCCSALW North Central Director said the Centre had, since its establishment, facilitated the destruction of more than 19,000 arms in the presence of relevant stakeholders.

He said the Centre was also carrying out awareness campaigns and training for security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, communities and other stakeholders.

According to him, security agencies are being trained to identify new methods used by criminals to move illegal arms and ammunition.

He added that communities were also being encouraged to provide useful information to security agencies whenever they noticed suspicious activities.

Eneche said the NCCSALW would continue to work with the Customs Service and other security agencies to reduce the spread of small arms and light weapons in the North Central and other parts of the country.

He expressed optimism that stronger cooperation, information sharing, effective border control and public awareness would help reduce the availability of illegal arms to criminal groups.