IGP Gives More Explanations On Rivers Council Elections https://osazuwaakonedo.news/igp-gives-more-explanations-on-rivers-council-elections/09/10/2024/ #Issues #Egbetokun #elections #Fubara #Igp #Kayode #NPF #Police #Rivers #Siminalayi Published: October 9th, 2024 Reshared: October 9, 2024 10:21 pm Nigeria
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00:00Nigeria Inspector General of Police, Kayone Egbetokun has given more explanations as it
00:06consults Nigeria Police in the last Saturday local government area elections in Rivers
00:11State said the violence erupted in the state after the declaration of the council poll
00:15results in which Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has set up a seven-month judiciary
00:21panel of inquiry to investigate the arson and reported killings in some local government
00:26areas of the state.
00:28It would be recalled that several local government secretariats in the state were attacked on
00:33Monday and some persons killed as the newly elected local government officials attempted
00:38to access their offices.
00:41Reports indicated that most of the elected council chairmen and ward councillors have
00:45resumed their offices after the post-election violence in the state.
00:50In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday afternoon, Secretary to the State
00:55Government, Dr. Tami Danabugu, indicated that the inauguration of the panel was held
01:01at 4 p.m. at Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
01:06The statement listed Honourable Justice I. R. Minakiris as Chairman of the Committee,
01:11with Barista Felicia Nwoki, Professor Blessing Dedia, Sir Samuel A. Bey, and Venerable Alex
01:18Osifor as members while Mrs. Inigi Brown and Barista Unzo Ikenga will serve as Secretary
01:24and Council to the panel, respectively.
01:27The statement read in part, pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, CAC
01:3430, Laws of River State of Nigeria, 1999, His Excellency Sir Siminalai Fubara, GSSRS,
01:44Governor of River State, has approved the setting up of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry
01:50into the Assault, Killings, and Wanton Destruction of Property at some Local Government Council
01:56Headquarters which occurred on or about Monday, October 7, 2024.
02:02Members of the Commission will be sworn in today, Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at the Executive
02:08Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt at 4 p.m.
02:14They are to be seated by 3.30 p.m.
02:17Nigeria Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egmetokun in a statement signed and made available
02:23by the First Spokesperson, Olumuwa Adejobi, reiterated that the police acted in line with
02:29court order and was not partisan during the Council elections.
02:33The statement reads, in response to the misinformation circulating in the media space with regards
02:39to the actions of the Nigeria Police Force in the River State political arena, particularly
02:44regarding the just-concluded River State Local Government, LG elections, the force wishes
02:50to debunk the prevailing falsehood of partisanship and reaffirms its neutrality and non-interference
02:55in political affairs within the state and the country in general, as the NPF only acted
03:00in line with an existing court judgment of the Federal High Court.
03:04Firstly, the Nigeria Police Force was served with an order of injunction by the Federal
03:10High Court made on 19 July, 2024, barring the police from participating in the local
03:17government election, deeming it unlawful.
03:20Secondly, the River State High Court issued a counter-order on 4 September, 2024, directing
03:28the Nigeria Police Force and other federal security agencies to provide security at the
03:34local government elections.
03:36It should be noted that the NPF was not joined as a party in this suit.
03:42And thirdly, the Federal High Court that gave the earlier injunction delivered judgment
03:47on 30 September, 2024, nullifying all previous activities so far carried in respect of the
03:53LG election and ordered the police to stay away from any attempt to provide security
03:59during the said election.
04:01All these orders and counter-orders were served on the police.
04:05The IJP being a thoroughbred committed to operating within the legal framework forwarded
04:10the three court orders to the First Legal Section for advice.
04:15For the information of members of the public, the First Legal Section boasts of sound and
04:20experienced lawyers who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession, including
04:26a senior advocate of Nigeria, San.
04:29Based on the legal advice received from the First Legal Office, the IJP ordered the River
04:35State Police Command to abide by the ruling of the Federal High Court, and also communicated
04:40the same to the governor of River State via a letter with reference number CH-3514-IGPSEC-ABJ-VOL38-260
04:52dated 2 October, 2024, where the IJP advised the governor to also abide by the court ruling
04:59in the interest of peace and well-being of the people of River State.
05:03The misinformation, triggered by the unwarranted outburst of the Executive Governor of River
05:09State, based on no material fact was totally uncalled for, and unfair to the law enforcement
05:15institutions in Nigeria, most especially his verbal attack on the person and office of
05:20the Inspector General of Police.
05:23For the avoidance of doubts, the general public is free to profile the career journey of the
05:28Inspector General of Police and his track record in every place he has served, which
05:34undoubtedly show him as a man of honour, integrity and focus before and after his assumption
05:40of office as the 22nd Indigenous Inspector General of Police of Nigeria.
05:46The IJP is very well respected in the Association of Chiefs of Police worldwide, particularly
05:53in Africa where he is currently serving as the Chairman of the West African Police Chiefs
05:58Committee, WAPCCO, and providing meritorious leadership within the West African Chiefs
06:04of Police.
06:06We have seen Chiefs of Police from across the world coming to attend his events in Nigeria
06:11and extending several invitations to him.
06:14For the first time, the President of Interpol was at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria
06:20Police Conference and Retreat in Oweri, last year under this IJP.
06:25Let us please observe some decorum in our politics in Nigeria.
06:30It is also instructive to note that the NPF does not intend to engage in any form of media
06:36tussle or war with the person of the Executive Governor of River State, his administration
06:41or his political affiliations but will continue to play its role as a neutral body in all
06:47forms of political activities undistracted.
06:50Similarly, suffice to say that the local government elections were generally peaceful nationwide
06:56especially in states where the police were in charge of security.
07:01In the same vein, the Inspector General of Police, IJP Kayode Eketokun, PhD, NPM, directed
07:10the immediate onslaught of all local government council secretariats in River State which
07:15were previously sealed when violence erupted in the studs over who controlled the local
07:20government secretariat between elected chairmen whose tenure expired and caretaker committee
07:25inaugurated by the state government which matter was pending in court.
07:30They onslaughted yesterday, 6 October 2014 after the police received the report that
07:35elected chairmen has been sworn in by the state government.
07:39The decision to onslaught the local government secretariats was informed by the need to maintain
07:44neutrality in the political development in the studs and allowing smooth functioning
07:49of democratic institutions in the state.
07:53The IJP however condemns the spread of violent confrontations and attacks at some local government
07:59secretariats leading to destruction of government facilities in the state immediately after
08:04the onslaught of the secretariats.
08:07He has promptly tasked the State Commissioner of Police to rise up to the occasion and restore
08:13law and order in the state.
08:15The IJP emphasises the Forces' commitment to maintaining law and order, upholding democratic
08:21principles, and fostering peace, unity, and progress across the nation.