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Abbas Calls for Bold Legislative Steps on Multi-Level Policing
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…say security reform must move from talk to action
By Gloria Ikibah
The Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has called for firm legislative measures to establish a multi-level policing system in Nigeria, describing it as a crucial step towards tackling the country’s persistent security challenges.
Speaking at a public hearing on the Private Intelligence and Investigation Council Bill, 2024, organised by the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Abbas stressed that security reforms must now go beyond rhetoric.
According to him, “This is no longer the time for theory. It is time for decisive action”.
Represented by Rep. Muktar Shagaya, member representing Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency of Kwara state, the Speaker noted that creating state police through constitutional amendment remains a practical and viable option that deserves serious national reflection.
He further highlighted the need to strengthen community policing as enshrined in the Police Act 2020, saying it should be made more responsive to local security realities.
Abbas maintained that a layered policing structure would bring law enforcement closer to the people and help address insecurity more effectively at the grassroots.
“The time has come for the debate on multi-level policing to move from theory to decisive legislative action. Creating state police through constitutional amendment remains a viable option that deserves serious consideration. However, beyond constitutional reform, we must also strengthen community policing to make it more effective and responsive to local realities”, he said.
Speaker Abbas reiterated the commitment of the House to reforms that will enhance public safety and strengthen Nigeria’s overall security architecture.
He stated that the National Assembly’s focus on security-related legislation, including the proposed Private Intelligence and Investigation Council Bill, underscores its determination to provide a legal framework that promotes accountability, professionalism, and collaboration among both public and private security actors.
The Speaker further explained that the Private Intelligence and Investigation Council Bill seeks to create a regulatory framework for private intelligence and investigation services, ensuring they operate ethically, responsibly, and in compliance with professional standards.
He said the bill aims to implement uniform practices that will enhance service quality, promote continuous training and capacity development, and encourage stronger cooperation between private and public security institutions.
He reaffirmed that the 10th House of Representatives remains committed to transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in all legislative engagements.
The Chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Rep. Ahmad Satomi, said the proposed legislation to establish a Private Intelligence and Investigation Council will mark a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture through the regulation and professionalization of private intelligence operations.
Satomi described the bill as a forward-looking initiative that seeks to ensure accountability, professionalism, and ethical conduct within the country’s growing private intelligence and investigation industry.
According to him, the proposed Council will serve as a regulatory body responsible for standardizing industry practices, providing accreditation and certification, and promoting continuous training and collaboration between the private and public security sectors.
“This marks a significant step towards strengthening our national security framework and ensuring the professionalism of private intelligence and investigation services.
“The proposed bill seeks to establish a regulatory framework that ensures ethical conduct and accountability. If established, the Council will standardize practices, promote continuous training, and foster collaboration between private and public security sectors,” Satomi said.
He noted that the initiative comes at a time when Nigeria is confronted with a web of security challenges ranging from insurgency and banditry to cybercrime and kidnapping, stressing that innovative approaches are required to strengthen the country’s security infrastructure.
Citing recent data, Satomi said the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported over 51.89 million household crime incidents between May 2023 and April 2024, with kidnapping alone accounting for 2.23 million incidents and ₦2.23 trillion paid in ransoms during the same period.
He said these figures underscore the magnitude of the security threats confronting our nation and the need for all stakeholders, governmental and private, to work collaboratively. Security, as it is often said, is everyone’s business.
The lawmaker stressed that while the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies are commendable, the evolving nature of threats demands additional layers of support, regulation, and intelligence coordination. He said the bill aligns with the National Assembly’s legislative efforts to address security concerns through proactive, intelligence-driven reforms.
According to him, the benefits of the bill are extensive. Beyond establishing a council to accredit private intelligence and investigation services, it seeks to streamline compliance mechanisms, enforce ethical standards, and create partnerships between public and private security agencies for improved outcomes.
However, Satomi acknowledged that not all stakeholders fully agree on every provision of the proposed legislation. He disclosed that while many of the submissions received by the Committee were supportive, some expressed concerns regarding possible overlaps with existing laws and the mandates of established security institutions.
“For instancethere is a concern that upholding Section 1(3)(a–f) of the Bill as it stands may dilute the exclusive statutory responsibility of an agency in matters of security clearance and internal vetting. Another concern referenced Section 4(i) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, warning that the bill may create duplication, legal disputes, and confusion over authority”, he stated.
He noted that these differences reveal deeper institutional issues within Nigeria’s security ecosystem, particularly the long-standing challenge of poor inter-agency collaboration and inefficient intelligence sharing.
“The obvious disparities in the stance adopted by various security agencies on oversight of intelligence matters once more bring to the fore the problem of non-collaboration in intelligence sharing and utilization.
“This issue has hampered efficient delivery of security services, and this Bill may present us an opportunity to address that important aspect of our national security governance structure,” he noted
Satomi commended Speaker Abbas, and other members of the House for their support in prioritizing legislative measures that seek to modernize Nigeria’s security framework.
He therefore urged all participants and stakeholders at the hearing—including representatives of security agencies, civil society, and the media—to make meaningful contributions that would guide the Committee’s final report.
“We assure you that all contributions will be taken into consideration by this Committee. The discussions, observations, and submissions from this hearing will significantly shape the report that will be presented to the House for further legislative action”, he stated.
Satomi restated his belief that the passage of the bill will greatly enhance the integrity and effectiveness of private intelligence and investigation services in contributing to national security and public safety.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Labour Party(LP) has formally presented Dr. Chibuzo Okereke as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, following what the party described as a broad-based consensus among its members and stakeholders.
The announcement was made in Abuja on Friday, May 30, 2026, with party leaders expressing confidence in Okereke’s capacity to provide the visionary leadership needed to address Nigeria’s governance and development challenges.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ken Eluma Asogwa in a statement indicated that Dr. Okereke is a renowned governance expert, policy strategist, and reform advocate whose contributions to public policy, legislative governance, and institutional development have earned him national recognition.
He currently serves as President of ERGAF-AFRICA Legislative Governance Innovation and Policy Hub, a leading policy and legislative research institution. He is also a legislative consultant to key committees and ranking members of the National Assembly, where he provides expert guidance on governance and public policy matters.
In addition, Dr. Okereke is a Resident Lecturer in the Department of Public Policy and Administration at Miva Open University, Abuja, where he is involved in training future public sector leaders and policy professionals.
A distinguished scholar, Okereke holds a PhD in Legislative Governance Studies, as well as Master’s degrees in Public Administration and Legislative Studies, both obtained with distinction
His expertise in governance, accountability, and national development has made him a respected voice on major national and international media platforms.
Beyond academia and policy advocacy, the Labour Party noted that Dr. Okereke has demonstrated a strong commitment to youth empowerment, educational advancement, and democratic reforms.
The party described him as a leader whose intellectual capacity, integrity, and dedication to public service align with its vision for a more accountable, competent, and prosperous Nigeria.
The party expressed optimism that his candidacy would inspire Nigerians seeking transformational leadership ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
A Texas jury has convicted former Roman Catholic priest Anthony Odiong of sexually assaulting women to whom he provided spiritual direction, concluding a closely watched case involving allegations that he abused his position as a clergyman to pursue sexual relationships with vulnerable parishioners.
The jury, comprising eight women and four men, found Odiong, 57, guilty of one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault involving two women who testified during the trial in Waco.
Odiong, who pleaded not guilty, now faces a possible life sentence on the first-degree charge. Sentencing proceedings are scheduled to begin Monday before the same jury. The second-degree convictions each carry potential prison terms ranging from two to 20 years, The Guardian reports.
Jurors deliberated for about two hours before returning their verdict.
The case initially included allegations involving a third woman, but prosecutors Ryan Calvert and Liz Buice dropped that portion of the case after the complainant, described as being in an “extremely emotionally fragile” state, did not appear in court to testify. Prosecutors said they chose not to compel her appearance, citing her “extremely tenuous” emotional condition.
According to courtroom accounts, Odiong showed little visible reaction as Judge Thomas West read the verdict. He reportedly looked straight ahead during the proceedings before lowering his head as deputies escorted him from the courtroom.
The prosecution stemmed from allegations first brought to public attention in February 2024 by a group of women who accused Odiong of sexual coercion, unwanted touching and abusive financial control while serving as a Catholic priest in Texas and later in Louisiana.
One of the complainants, identified by the pseudonym Mary Doe, later presented a copy of a media report detailing the allegations to Waco police and accused Odiong of assaulting her over three years beginning in 2008.
Investigators subsequently identified a second complainant, known as Jane Doe, who also alleged abuse during the same period while Odiong served in the Waco area. Authorities said additional reports from other women helped establish probable cause for his arrest and prosecution despite the age of the allegations.
During the trial, Mary Doe testified that Odiong initiated a long-term sexual relationship with her while acting as her spiritual adviser as she navigated a difficult divorce and cared for seven children. She and one of her sons told jurors that the child once discovered them having sexual intercourse in her bedroom following a family gathering.
Jane Doe testified that she sought spiritual guidance from Odiong while trapped in an abusive marriage. She alleged that he pressured her to permit sexual acts with her husband that she found painful and then required her to discuss the encounters with him. Prosecutors argued that such conduct constituted sexual assault under Texas law even though Odiong was not directly involved in the sexual activity.
Both women said they met Odiong while he served at St Peter Catholic Center in Waco, a church frequented by students and employees of Baylor University. Their former husbands were Baylor employees, placing them within Odiong’s pastoral reach.
Jurors also heard evidence that DNA testing established Odiong had fathered a child in 2023 with a woman identified as Presley Jones, whom he had counselled spiritually while serving as pastor of St Anthony of Padua Church in Luling, Louisiana.
Although Odiong was not charged in connection with Jones because Louisiana lacks a law similar to Texas’ clergy sexual assault statute, prosecutors argued that the child demonstrated a pattern of sexual relationships with women he met through his ministerial work.
Expert witnesses told the court that clergy members bear responsibility for maintaining professional and spiritual boundaries with those under their care. Jurors also heard testimony regarding the Catholic Church’s requirement that priests remain celibate.
The defence called only one witness, a former parishioner, who testified about Odiong’s character and recalled attending a 2011 gathering at Mary Doe’s home. Under cross-examination, however, the witness acknowledged that Odiong’s conduct fell short of expectations for a religious leader.
Odiong, a naturalised United States citizen, was ordained a Catholic priest in 1993 in his native Nigeria. He was transferred to the Austin Diocese region, which includes Waco, in 2006 under then-Bishop Gregory Aymond.
After studying in Rome, Odiong moved to Luling in 2015, by which time Aymond had become Archbishop of New Orleans.
Church officials in Austin later said they suspended Odiong from ministry in 2019 over allegations involving multiple women. The suspension was not publicly announced at the time, though officials said New Orleans church leaders were informed. Archbishop Aymond did not publicly disclose a similar suspension in New Orleans until late 2023.
British-Nigerian rapper, Joseph Adenuga, popularly known as Skepta, has expressed deep concern over the worsening injustice in his Nigeria.
Speaking in a video broadcast, the ‘Bad Energy Stay Far Away’ crooner appealed to celebrities and the international community to assist Nigerians in drawing the global attention to the injustices in Nigeria.
He explained that Nigerians are resilient but have been suffering injustice for long.
“There is so much injustice in Nigeria. And whenever I can whether it is at my shows, verbally or images, whatever I can do, we are going to speak up for injustice at all time.
“Nigerians need help. We need people to speak up for us as well. We need to protect Nigerians. There is so much injustice in Nigeria.
“This is my message to the people; please, I know that we [Nigerians] are resilient and we make everything look good, but we need help, too. Please, help us,” he appealed.
LP Approves Dr Chibuzo Okereke As 2027 Presidential Candidate
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