News

Oyo Speaker Plans to Tackle House Agents’ Extortion

By Web News 245

By Mosope Kehinde

The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr. Adebo Ogundoyin, has reaffirmed his commitment to youth development and governance while announcing plans to tackle the growing menace of extortion by house agents in the state.  

Mr. Ogundoyin made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, under the leadership of its Chairman, Mr. Adebowale Falana. 

During the interactive session, several youths raised concerns about the alarming rate of extortion by house agents in Oyo State. 

They lamented the exploitative practices that have made access to housing increasingly difficult for residents.  

In response, Mr. Ogundoyin announced that the Oyo State House of Assembly would come up with a committee that would draft a bill to regulate the activities of house agents and curb their excesses. 

He said it was time the excessive activities of the various house agents were stopped, assuring all stakeholders that the proposed legislation would be completed and presented to Governor Seyi Makinde for assent before the end of the first quarter of the year.  

“This bill will demonstrate how serious the leadership of the House is in addressing the menace of extortion by house agents. It will help protect residents from exploitation and restore sanity to the housing sector in Oyo State. The move will no doubt bring relief to residents who have long decried the unregulated practices of house agents.”

Addressing the gathering, the Speaker emphasized his role as a representative of young people in governance, describing himself as the voice of the Youth Parliament. 

He called for deliberate investment in modern skill acquisition centers that would equip youths with relevant skills to thrive in today’s competitive and challenging world.  

Edited by Taiwo Akinola

Crime

Police Hammer Two ASPs over Alleged Extortion

By Web News 872

Two Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, have been suspended by the Rivers State Command for Alleged extortion in the course of duty.

The suspended ASP Doubara Edonyabo and ASP Talent Mungo were Alleged to have been involved in an untoward act.

The suspension of the two officers, as well the stoppage of their salaries were ordered by the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu with the approval of the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission.

The announcement of the suspended officers was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko on Sunday.

The suspended officers were implicated alongside one Inspector Michael Odey who was found guilty and dismissed subsequently from the police on February 7, 2024, following a thorough orderly room trial and a comprehensive review conducted by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 16 that found him guilty.

 “the Rivers State Police Command hereby issues an official update regarding a case involving three Police Officers who have been accused of engaging in acts of extortion.

“As previously communicated during our press briefing on February 13, 2024, Inspector Michael Odey was found guilty and subsequently dismissed from duty, effective from 07/02/2024, following thorough Orderly room proceedings and a comprehensive review conducted by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 16.

“Furthermore, during the aforementioned briefing, we provided information regarding the ongoing reviews pertaining to ASP Doubara Edonyabo and ASP Talent Mungo, as their respective ranks required approval from the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission.

“Today, we hereby inform the public that the Police Service Commission has officially authorized the suspension from duty of ASP Doubara Edonyabo and ASP Talent Mungo, effective from 29/02/2024.”

Speaking about the salaries’ stopped of the implicated officers, the CP said,  “The salaries of the implicated officers have been stopped. The two officers will face the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), which is responsible for addressing disciplinary issues involving senior officers. Update would soon be given on other cases involving these officers.”

Disu, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of credible policing, emphasising that the decision of the command to suspend the implicated officers would serve as a deterrent to others contemplating misconduct.

The CP further called on the public to report any unprofessional behavior or misconduct displayed by police officers, assuring that all reports will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

“This decisive course of action serves as a strong deterrent to any police officer who may contemplate engaging in misconduct and unequivocally reaffirms our unwavering commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of credible policing in Rivers State.

“The Rivers State Police Command remains steadfast in its dedication to maintaining discipline among its officers. We wholeheartedly encourage residents to promptly report any instances of unprofessional behavior or misconduct displayed by our officers.

“Reports can be made through the following contact channels: phone number 08161355218 and WhatsApp number 08067167605. Rest assured, all reports will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

“We persistently strive to foster a safe and secure environment for all residents of Rivers State, and we pledge to continue working diligently in the best interests of the public.”

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

Police Arrest Operatives over N30m Extortion

By Web News 658

Some operatives attached to the Special Tactical Squad of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja have been arrested for extorting N30 million from a citizen.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

According to the FPRO, the extortion was brought to the notice of the force via the X platform, and the NPF has arrested the officers and their accomplices who initially escaped upon commencement of investigations.

The statement read, “Following the recent act of extortion by some officers of the Nigeria Police attached to the Special Tactical Squad in Abuja who extorted a member of the public of the sum of N30.3m, which was brought to the notice of the Force via the X platform, the Nigeria Police wishes to reveal and announce that significant progress has been made in apprehending the officers and their accomplices responsible for this unprofessional conduct as the squad who initially escaped upon commencement of investigations have been arrested and are currently in custody.

“The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as part of his commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within the Nigeria Police Force, has ordered the commencement of disciplinary proceedings to ensure that justice is served swiftly and decisively.

“These disciplinary measures underscore the zero-tolerance stance of the Nigeria Police Force towards any form of misconduct or corruption among its ranks.

“The IGP also emphasized the imperatives that those found to have violated the trust placed in them by the public face the full consequences of their actions, as such behavior not only tarnishes the reputation of the Force but also undermines the collective efforts to maintain law and order in our country.

“The NPF recognizes that transparency and accountability are paramount in maintaining public trust and will continue to take decisive action against any misconduct within our ranks.”

Punch/Adebukola Aluko

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Crime

Four Policemen on Orderly Room Trial for Extorting Undergraduate

By Web News 670

Four policemen attached to the Ogudu Police Division in Lagos State have extorted an undergraduate of Cyprus University, Emmanuel Nnawuihe, of N153,000 in the Ojota area of the state.

Nnawuihe was driving to a destination in the state when the policemen, who were on operational duty, flagged him down for a search around the under-bridge area of Ojota.

After obliging the policemen’s request, it was learnt that the policemen searched Nnawuihe’s vehicle and his mobile phone and found nothing incriminating.

Instead of allowing the undergraduate to continue his journey, the policemen reportedly took him to a lonely spot around the under bridge where he was forced to open his mobile bank application.

A source said upon sighting that Nnawuihe had about N2m in his bank account, the four policemen allegedly threatened to harm him unless he agreed to transfer the money into an account owned by another person who was not at the scene.

The source said the undergraduate refused because he did nothing wrong and that the money does not belong to him but the policemen kept threatening him.

Observing that his life was in harm’s way through the desperation of the policemen, the source said the undergraduate initiated a negotiation with them, adding that through the negotiation, the policemen settled for N153,000 and provided the account number where the money was paid into.

 The source said, “The incident happened around 3.30pm on Saturday, June 3, 2023, but Nnawuihe transferred the money around 4.08pm. What exactly happened was that the policemen stopped his vehicle around Ojota, when they did not find anything incriminating on him, they took him to a location where he was threatened to part away with the N2m found in his bank account.

“But he disagreed with them and they threatened to harm him till he agreed to pay them N153,000 after a series of negotiations. The policemen were the ones that provided the account number where the money was transferred into. It was after he transferred the money that the policemen released him.”

Nnawuihe, who became angered after being extorted by the policemen, informed the Lagos State Police Command and the state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, detailed policemen to track down the accused policemen and bring them in for questioning.

During the investigation, Nnawuihe was taken to the Ogudu Police Division where he identified the policemen and they were taken to the police headquarters in Ikeja where they were detained for further interrogation.

It was learnt that Nnawuihe also wrote an official statement to corroborate his claims and provided the receipt of the N153,000 transfer he made to the account provided by the accused policemen.

While assessing the receipt in possession of one of our correspondents, it was observed that the money was transferred into an account owned by one Edidiong Anthony Ekpo.

As of the time of filing this report, our correspondents gathered that the money had been refunded back to the undergraduate and the four policemen had been undergoing an orderly room trial.

It was also learnt that pending the outcome of the orderly room trial, the CP ordered the immediate removal of the Divisional Police Officer, Ogudu Division, CSP Celestina Kalu, over failure to supervise her men linked to the extortion meted against Nnawuihe.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, noting that the command had commenced an investigation into the case.

He said, “The money (N153,000) has been refunded to the victim and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Idowu Owohunwa, has ordered a probe of the allegation against the policemen who are currently in detention. The policemen are undergoing an orderly room trial. The redeployment of DPOs is routine.”

However, police extortion of motorists and residents has been on the increase in the state.

In a statement by Hundeyin on Saturday, April 16, 2023, Owohunwa ordered the immediate removal of the DPO of Okokomaiko, SP Emmanuel Edebagha, for also failing to supervise his men who were accused of extorting a trader in the Alaba International Market, Onyinyechi Anwusi, of N100,000.

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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