In a significant legal development, a Federal High Court in Awka has declared that the current Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, is unlawfully occupying the office he holds. Justice Fatun Riman, in a judgment delivered in response to a suit filed by Okechukwu Nwafor, a taxpayer, emphasized that Baba's continued stay in office is in violation of the provisions outlined in the Police Act of 2020 and deemed it both "unlawful and unconstitutional."

According to the court's ruling, only an officer within the specified rank, with a minimum of four years in service, can be appointed as the Inspector-General of Police. It was established that Baba falls short of this requirement, making his appointment invalid. Although the judgment was delivered on May 19, 2023, a certified copy of the judgment became available on May 27, 2023.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit took President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the Nigeria Police Council to court, seeking an order to prevent Baba from occupying the office further, as his tenure has expired.

After carefully considering the arguments presented by both parties, Justice Riman concluded in his judgment, "It is important to observe that the Inspector-General of Police is a public servant, and by virtue of being a member of the staff of the Nigeria Police Force, he is subject to the provisions of the Federal Public Rules, which mandate the retirement of all public service officers at the age of 60 or after 35 years of service, whichever comes first."

Furthermore, the court highlighted the limitations of the President's prerogative power, stating that it must adhere to the provisions of the Constitution. The retirement of the Inspector-General of Police is a matter governed by statutory and constitutional regulations, and no other law can supersede the foundational norms.

It is worth noting that Baba turned 60 years old on March 1, 2023, which marked the compulsory retirement age. However, his tenure was extended by President Buhari in January of the same year. This recent court judgment challenges the legality of that extension and raises concerns about the adherence to constitutional and statutory provisions in the appointment of high-ranking officials within the Nigeria Police Force.

As the Rivers state Commission of Inquiry begins to entertain cases of brutality by the Nigerian Police Force in the state, a 50-year-old man has opened up on how the defunct special anti-robbery squad, SARS, killed his three-year-old daughter.

The petitioner, Norde Sylvester, a civil servant with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) in Rivers State spoke at the hearing of the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Police brutality in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Sylvester recalled that the incident occurred on October 15, 2015 while he was outside with his family at his residence in Rumuohalu, near Port Harcourt, after they were forced to go inside as a result of sporadic shootings by SARS operatives.

“Two of them (operatives) got up and ordered me to go back and that if I don’t leave, I will go and join that my so called daughter. I came back in tears and went and buried the child,” he explained in tears.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Mercy Nweke, counsel to the State Commissioner of Police during cross-examination faulted the petitioner’s claims, wondering why he did not report the matter to the police. She noted that the bullet was not enough evidence that his daughter was killed.

“This is ammunition (referring to the bullet). It has not been used. Something that has not been used cannot kill anybody.”

But counsel to the Commission, S.O Inko-Tariah objected, saying his colleague was not an expert and was not in a place to determine if the bullet was used or not.

Sylvester reiterated that he reported at the SARS office but was chased by the operatives and produced the bullet that allegedly killed his daughter, adding that he was broke and could not hire the services of a lawyer and therefore decided to leave everything to God before the panel came up.

But the Commission’s Chairman, Justice Chukwunenye Uriri (rtd) said the evidence provided by the petitioner was of public interest and admitted it as an exhibit, even as he asked Sylvester what he wanted from the commission.

 “All I need is justice for my baby that they killed and also my house that was damaged,” he pleaded.

In a separate development, a 40-year old man, Tamunodiepreye Akalugogbo also told the panel that SARS operatives allegedly shot and killed his 14-year old son during the EndSARS protest at Oyigbo local government area of the State in October, this year.

Akalugogbo explained that following the deployment of soldiers to Oyigbi in the wake of the ENDSARS protest, people were running for their lives, but when he got home his son was nowhere to be found.

“My wife wanted me to buy something for her. So we started looking for him, only to see him on the roads with blood all over him and a bullet wound,” the petitioner stated.

Source:independent.ng

A member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Congress and a strong ally of President Buhari, Buba Galadima, has condemned the recent action of the Central Bank of Nigeria, freezing the bank account of #EndSARS promoters.

Speaking on Arise TV this morning, Galadima said the action is unconstitutional as Nigeria is not in a military regime.

“What the government has done is not right.

It has no such right or powers to block bonafide Nigerians from travelling out of the country or from accessing their (bank) accounts. Blocked for what? What have they done?

These young men were peacefully protesting the actions, omissions or commissions of government.

Why do you, after you persuaded them or after agents of government allegedly attacked or killed them, follow this draconian disposition of blocking their accounts? That is not constitutional.

I’m sending this message to Mr President whether he knows or he doesn’t know, let him be shown what I am saying. His people have no right to do what they are doing.

Please, they should desist and unblock the accounts of these young people and allow them to carry on with their normal activities as Nigerians. You cannot harass them, we are in a democracy, we are not in a military regime.”he said

Youths protesting against police brutality across the country have taken over the Magboro area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to express their displeasure.

They carried several placards with different inscriptions to demonstrate their grievances against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

One of the protesters, simply identified as Amaechi, said, “We are all here on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway because there is a nationwide protest for the soul of our country.

“#EndSARS, #Endpolicebrutality, end bad governance, and wickedness to the Nigerian youths. It is time for the youths to take over.”

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has reassured #EndSARS protesters that the Nigeria Police Force would punish all officers found guilty of brutality and other unprofessional conducts.

Adamu also ordered police officers to stop assaulting peaceful protesters across the country.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has also called on the Federal Government to discuss with #EndSARS protesters on ways to meet their demands.

He insisted that the government should give room for open discussions just the way they negotiate with terrorists and kidnappers.

Speaking during a television programme in Lagos, Falana also urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to provide security for protesters to limit cases of attacks by thugs.

Source:spread.ng

Fulani Kwajafa, a retired Commissioner of Police, has regretted establishing the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, a unit of the Nigeria Police Force, in 1984.

Fulani expressed his regrets during an interview with BBC Hausa, over the excesses of the unit, notorious for alleged human rights violations.

Activities of SARS operatives have sparked protests across the country for almost two weeks now.

Nigerians are demanding a total scrap of the unit and reformation of the entire police force but Kwajafa said the unit completely derailed from its founding objectives.

He said, “My name is Fulani Kwajafa. I entered the Nigeria Police Force in 1984. Then robbery was prevalent, this was while Buhari was the Head of State,” he said.

According to him, Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari received a lot of complaints that armed robbery and other forms of robbery were on the increase giving the people sleepless nights and him(Kwajafa) and the then Inspector-General of Police, Mr Inyang, said they must do something about it or be fired.

Kwajafa explained that the IGP then mandated him to come up with an idea to rescue the country from thieves, a task he, Kwajafa, accepted.

He said after four months of creating the police unit, peace returned to the country as criminals who were not caught ran, and those who were caught were sent to prison.

“This thing frustrates me, there is no reason why because someone commits a crime that the person should be killed. There are laws and no one will give an order that if you see armed robbers kill the person,” he said.

Source:dailypost.ng

Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, has said the constitution backs Nigerians protesting against the alleged brutality of the police Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

Makinde made the remark in a response to the killing of a protester and the injuring of others allegedly by police officers in Ogbomosho area of the state.

The governor said the End SARS protest was an indication of systemic failure in the country.

Makinde, in a series of tweets on Saturday, said the protest exposed the fact that governors lacked the power to control the police in their states.

He wrote:

“I have received with deep sadness the news of the passing of one of our children, Jimoh Isiaka, who was shot during the End SARS protest in Ogbomoso.

“Also, at this same protest, Abdulrasaq Olawale, Oluwadamilare Gbolohunmi, and five other persons sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

“The End SARS protests are a strong indicator of a systemic failure. It is a failure on the part of those who have been constitutionally empowered to protect the citizens.

“It again calls into question why State Governors are called Chief Security Officers of their state whereas, they do not have the necessary powers to control the police force.

“Peaceful protests are a big part of our democratic process. The right to freedom of speech and assembly are guaranteed by our Constitution, and I will never support any attempt to rob citizens of their fundamental human rights.”

Aggrieved youths have been protesting over the brutality of SARS operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.

Following the protest, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured irate Nigerians that his administration would reform SARS.

Buhari has assured that the reform would ensure that SARS unit is accountable to Nigerians.

However, the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum had claimed that Yahoo Yahoo boys and other criminal elements are behind the protest.