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Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered the massive deployment of personnel and operational resources for peaceful council polls on September 21.

Uzuegbu also ordered restriction of human and vehicular movements in the state between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on September 21, except for those providing essential services.

Also excluded from the order are media practitioners, election officials and accredited election observers.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s DSP Daniel Ndukwe on Thursday in Enugu, quoting the commissioner as saying the restriction order also applied to armed security personnel on VIP protection duties.

The CP said that on no account should any security personnel escort VIPs to the polling centres

According to him, the election’s security management will be jointly executed by all the security agencies in the state.

“The Command is warning that electoral violence of any kind will not be tolerated before, during and beyond the polls.

“The Command is cautioning political parties and their stalwarts to conduct themselves orderly and in line with the election guidelines provided by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC).

“Unrepentant criminal elements that may want to foment trouble during the elections should steer clear, as the security forces are geared up to deal decisively with such criminals.

“Parents and guardians should dissuade their children and wards from being used as thugs to disrupt the elections, as anyone caught will be made to face the full weight of the law,” he said.

Source: Daily Post

DIG Frank Mba, in charge of the police contingent for Edo Governorship Election, says the state command has raided black spots ahead of Saturday’s contest.

Mba said this at a news briefing on Wednesday in Benin, shortly after addressing the police personnel deployed for the poll.

He said that the raid was carried out by the command with the support of visiting officers and that some miscreants were being detained. According to him, the exercise became necessary to rid the state of miscreants and ensure a hitch-free election. Mba said the IGP had deployed adequately for the election, adding that they would work with other sister security agencies to provide security during the election.

“Like the IGP has already briefed Nigerians, the police will be deploying adequately for the Edo election. “What we have done today is to hold a meeting with the strategic commanders, DPOs, Area Commanders, Deputy Commissioners of Police and Commissioner of Police, who are saddled with the task of providing leadership and supervision at the various levels. “Our task is to provide a peaceful atmosphere for the conduct of a free, fair and credible election.

“We are working with sister agencies as we cannot work in isolation. “The state shares a border with Kogi, Delta, Ondo and Anambra so the security will be adequately done. “The Army will man these border areas that are far away while the Navy will also provide security on the waterways. “Other security organisations will also work with us during the election,” the police chief said. He also said that the police had provided a dedicated phone line – 07025000383 for the public to report any breach of the peace.

“This phone number will be with me and if for operational reasons it is not with me, it will be with my personal assistant. “The state command as supported by visiting officers has been conducting specialised operations. “They have been conducting raids at known criminal hideouts. “Most of the raids they have are target-oriented, intelligence-driven and they are targeted at isolating criminal elements in the state while some have been detained. “The raid continues as we are ready to provide adequate security during this election,” Mba said.

Source: The Nation

A middle-aged man, identified as Alex has been caught in a hotel in Abuja allegedly trying to use a girl he took to the hotel for ritual. The girl was seen in a video on a chair inside one of the hotel’s rooms tied by the legs, hands and mouth.

City & Crime learnt that the man, suspected to be a ‘yahoo fraudster’ picked the girl from the road to the hotel and on getting to the room, undressed her, leaving her with pants alone.

The scream of the girl attracted a passerby close to the room, who alerted the hotel’s management. In the video, some people suspected to be management of the hotel and some security operatives forced the door open and directed the suspect to untie the lady.

Attempts by the suspect to explain his action were not entertained by those in the room, who rather slapped him.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement late yesterday, saying ‘’The command is aware of the video footage making the rounds about a lady who was criminally confined in Top view hotel, Wuse, Abuja on 17th September, 2024 by an alleged Internet fraudster allegedly for money ritual.

‘‘Findings revealed that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has taken the suspect into custody and are yet to hand over to the police for diligent investigation. ‘‘The FCT police command for all intent and purposes awaits the NSCDC to hand over all parties for commencement of diligent and discreet investigation.’’

Source: Daily Trust

A Federal High Court has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to suspend its investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Ekiti State funds meant for the Ekiti Airport project.

Justice Emeka Nwite made the ruling in response to an application filed by Oluwaseun Odewale, a former aide to ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi, and Ariyo Oyinkolawa Adesola.

The court order, given in a ruling on the application jointly filed by Odewale and
Ariyo Oyinkolawa Adesola, delineated FHC/ABJ/CS/1340/2024, mandated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to “maintain the status quo” regarding its probe into the alleged embezzlement of Ekiti State funds earmarked for the Ekiti Airport project under Odewale’s watch.

It was alleged that under Odewale’s watch, a whopping sum of 20 billion Naira was spent to build an airport which was commissioned in October 2022 without control towers and remains non-operational till date.

Odewale’s affidavit in support of the motion ex parte dated September 10, 2024, told the court that EFCC operatives who had previously detained him were allegedly forcing him to admit to committing offenses and embezzling Ekiti State Government funds in his capacity as Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, which he declined.

He disclosed that all the questions posed to him by the EFCC “were related to the awards of contracts by the Ekiti State Government, with an emphasis on the airport project initiated by the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration, which had reached an advanced stage and was inaugurated,” adding that the operatives also probed other minor contracts awarded by the Ekiti State Government under his watch.

He added that there is also a pending motion for a stay of execution and an injunction pending appeal which challenges the EFCC’s power to investigate or make inquiries into contracts awarded or projects executed with funds appropriated by the Ekiti State House of Assembly. The legal counsel urged the court to restrain the EFCC operatives from further inviting or harassing his clients amid the pending cases, as they could suffer “irreparable damage or grievous hardship” if the ex parte motion is not granted.

Justice Nwite in his ruling, held that the interest of justice would be served by “ordering that the status quo be maintained pending the hearing of the application.”

The judge subsequently ordered that the status quo be maintained and adjourned the case to September 26, 2024.

Source: Nigerian Tribune