Links

The Senate, has passed a bill which amended the Police Act and prescribed among others, a four- year single tenure for the office of the Inspector – General of Police .

The proposed legislation is titled, “ Police Act CAP P19 LFN 2004 ( Repeal and Re- enactment ) Bill , 2020 ”

The bill states that the tenure was introduced to give stability to the office of the Inspector- General of Police .

It also states that the appointment and removal from office of the Police boss would henceforth be based on the advice of the Police Council .

The legislative action followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs .

The report read by the panel Chairman , Senator Haliru Jika recommended that the inspector -General of Police should adhere to policing plans .

It read , “The national policing plan should be made with inputs from the Police Force Headquarters and all the various Police formations nationwide before the end of each financial year .

” It should set priorities, objectives , cost implications and expected outcomes of Policing for the next succeeding financial year in order to change budgeting from a top – down approach to a bottom – up approach, ” it said .

It also recommended that the Police should “ abide and enforce certain constitutional provisions, particularly fundamental rights of persons in Police custody under chapter 4 of the l 999 constitution ( as amended ) and other international instruments on Human rights to which Nigeria is a signatory . ”

Punch

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , has suspended the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , Ibrahim Magu , according to reports .

Buhari had earlier set up a presidential panel headed by Justice Ayo Salami to probe the various allegations leveled against the EFCC boss .

The panel grilled Magu for hours on Monday at the Presidential Villa , Abuja before he was taken into police custody.

A source privy to the investigation confirmed Magu ’ s suspension to The PUNCH .

The source said , “It is commonsensical that when an investigation of this nature is ongoing , you don ’ t allow the person being investigated to keep the keys of the office for which he is being investigated .

“ This is because if he keeps the keys , there can be a kind of tampering with documents or evidence.

“ It is not logical and it is even undemocratic to allow such to happen. ”

The Presidency has yet to issue a formal statement on the issue as of the time of filing this report .

The presidential panel has however resumed sitting at the Presidential Villa , Abuja.

Punch

THE Senate has passed a bill seeking to stop sexual abuse of female students in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The Bill which was read the third time and passed, was a sequel to the consideration of the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters presented by the Chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, All Progressives Congress, APC, Ekiti Central.

The bill, christened: The proposed legislation titled “A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions and for other matters connected therewith 2019 was sponsored by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo -Agege, APC, Delta Central, and co-sponsored by 105 other Senators.

The bill which has 27 clauses, proposes up to 14 years jail term, with a minimum of 5 years, without an option of fine for any educator who commits sexual offences in tertiary institutions.

The bill defines sexual offences as including sexual intercourse with a student or demands for sex from a student or a prospective student or intimidating or creating a hostile or offensive environment for the student by soliciting for sex or making sexual advances.

Other forms of sexual harassment identified in the bill are grabbing, hugging, kissing, rubbing, stroking, touching, pinching the breasts or hair or lips or hips or buttocks or any other sensual part of the body of a student; or sending by hand or courier or electronic or any other means naked or sexually explicit pictures or videos or sex related objects to a student, and whistling or winking at a student or screaming, exclaiming, joking or making sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks about a student’s physique or stalking a student.

Punch

A former Assistant Director with the Department of State Services, Dennis Amachree , says he would have resigned if he were facing corruption allegations like the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , Ibrahim Magu.

Amachree said this on Channels Television ’ s Sunrise Daily programme .

Amachree said , “ If I was Magu and I go before this panel and they give me a clean bill that all the allegations against me are faulty , once I come out , what I would do is to resign . ”

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , Ibrahim Magu, spent last night in police cell after he was grilled for about six hours by a Presidential panel headed by Justice Isa Salami, a former President of the Court of Appeal .

The PUNCH gathered that Magu was detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters in Area 10 , Garki , Abuja
He is expected to face further interrogation today at the Presidential Villa .

The embattled EFCC boss was arrested on Monday afternoon and taken to the panel after he allegedly snubbed previous invitations extended to him .

A detachment of Department of State Services personnel intercepted his convoy in traffic at Wuse II and forcefully took him to the panel where he was questioned on discrepancies observed in recovered funds by his agency .

There are indications that Magu may not return to office as the Presidency was already working on replacing him .

Punch

The House of Representatives , consolidated two Bills, seeking to penalise officers of the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Security, for failure to arrest and compel the appearance of Ministers and Heads of agencies, who fail to honour summons of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly is empowered by sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, to Investigate all agencies and cause arrest, of those who do not cooperate with their enquiry on any issue.

The two Bills are entitled: A Bill for an Act to Amend the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017 to Prescribe the Offence and Punishment for Contempt of Legislative Houses, to Provide Punishment on the Police or any other Law Enforcement Agent that refuses to Arrest any Person as directed by a Legislative House, to provide Exception to the kind of person to be compelled by a Legislative House, such as President, the Executive Governors and their Deputies, Diplomats and their agents, Representatives of International Organisations such as the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, ECOWAS, and “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Legislative House and Guarantee the Principle of Separation of Powers, and for Related Matters”.

The Senate has asked the Federal Government to rename the Ibadan Airport after the late former governor of Oyo State , Senator Abiola Ajimobi .

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Senator Abdulfatahi Buhari and seconded by Senator Ibikunle Amosun .

Senator Buhari had eulogised the late Ajimobi , who was a member of the 5 th Senate from 2003 to 2007 .

The red chamber thereafter observed a minute silence in honour of Ajimobi

It also advised the Federal Government to rename the Ibadan Airport after him .

THE Federal Government said that it will shut the Third Mainland Bridge for six months for maintenance starting from Friday, July 24.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr. Kayode Popoola, who said this in Lagos, noted that consultations are ongoing for another phase of repair works to begin on the 11.8km bridge.

Popoola, who explained that the work will commence on the outward mainland section of the bridge, said: “One lane will be closed during the maintenance works, while the other lane remains open till the completion of the lane under repairs.”

He also noted that work will commence immediately on the closed lane while the completed lane will be open to traffic.

Pointing out that the ministry is working with relevant agencies to perfect traffic during the period, the Controller stated that the bridge has gone through a series of repair works and was shut in August 2018 for a three-day investigative maintenance check.

He stated that there have also been reports of some worn-out expansion joints on the structure, raising concerns over the state of the bridge.

Vanguard

The Oyo State Police Command has warned members of the public to be cautious against the activities of cult groups in the state as intelligence report indicates that some groups are warming up for their annual anniversary .

The Commissioner of Police , Oyo State Command , Nwachukwu Enwonwu, gave the indication in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the command , Olugbenga Fadeyi .

The statement read in part , “The Commissioner of Police wishes to inform the people of Oyo State that the Annual celebration of secret cult groups popularly known as ‘ Aiye confraternity ’ on 7 th July , and ‘ Buccaneer’ also known as Eiye confraternity on 8 th of August every year across the South – West states has come to the notice of the Command .

“ Adequate security measures have been emplaced to forestall any unlawful assembly and breakdown of law and order/ loss of life associated with such unauthorised activities.

“ The command further wishes to reassure the people that the Police in Oyo State are on top of the situation and are working assiduously to clamp down on the aforementioned secret cult groups .

“ It is worthy of note that concerted efforts have been put in place to respond to security threats from these unlawful secret cult groups who are bent on disturbing the peace equilibrium being enjoyed by the people of Oyo State on the dates.

“ The Command hereby enjoins all to go about their lawful businesses as the Police will not give any breathing space to the unscrupulous elements to create chaos or breach the peace in the state .

“ The CP warns parents to warn their children and wards to desist from any activity capable of stirring the peace , saying they should not test the will and capacity of the security agencies in the state . ”

Punch

The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 has lamented the increasing rate of COVID- 19 cases among people in government , saying it was directly impacting on governance and security in the country.

The PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha , who stated this at the task force press briefing in Abuja , also said the possibility of ordering a fresh total lockdown to curtail further spread of the virus could not be ruled out .

The SGF , who advised prominent Nigerians to take COVID – 19 protocols seriously, said the virus does not respect status .

Mustapha ’ s warning came amid rising cases of COVID- 19 among state governors and other prominent Nigerians . Recently state governors , including David Umahi of Ebonyi , Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and their Ondo State counterpart , Rotimi Akeredolu , contracted the virus .

Warning people in authority , the SGF said , “ Of recent , we have witnessed a high rate of positive cases especially among people in authority . This has a direct impact on governance and security of our nation . We urge that vigilance and care should be exhibited by all Nigerians , irrespective of status . This virus does not discriminate and the PTF shall keep sustaining its sensitisation messaging. ”

We can ’t rule out fresh total lockdown – PTF
When asked if the task force would be considering a fresh lockdown in the face of what it observed as disregard for guidelines , Mustapha said events of coming weeks would determine the next line of action .

He said , “ We will not speculate on what will happen in future but we will protect the lives of Nigerians .

“ To achieve that , if it means to lock down again , we will not shy away from that responsibility . We will recommend to the President who will look at the report and take a decision on our recommendation . What happens in the next two three weeks will determine what we will do . ”

Punch

The disinfection of schools against the spread of COVID- 19 in preparation for the resumption of class activities will begin on Tuesday , the Federal Government announced .

It also explained why it delayed the decontamination process , adding that it had enough teams on ground to carry out the disinfection exercise .

The Minister of Environment , Muhammad Mahmood , disclosed this in Abuja at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 .

He said , “ Earlier I told you that we have sat with the Ministry of Education and we have the list of all the schools that need to be disinfected before resumption. Well , what we plan to do now is to do ( decontaminate ) the centres that will be used . ”

On why the process was delayed , the minister said it was intentional , as the plan was to ensure that the chemicals were effective enough when the schools resume .

Mahmood said , “ The delay is because it is better to disinfect and decontaminate within a short period of time so that the kids will be going back into these classes when they have been freshly decontaminated .

“ This is because the chemicals we use are chemicals that are not long lasting , they have short contact time to do their job . So we will be getting this done before Monday when they ( schoolchildren ) will be back to use these classes. ”

“ So it is between tomorrow ( Tuesday ) and the rest of the week. We have enough teams and people that we will engage to get that done . So rest assured that your kids will be returning to a safe environment when they resume , ” he said .

Mahmood noted that the decontamination exercise would be done across the country.