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Reps Okay State Police Bill For Second Reading

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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, “A bill for an to alter the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the establishment of State Police and for related matters. M
This is part of the efforts by the 10th National Assembly toward devolution of powers, which has gained momentum on the floor of the House.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that in the 7th and 8th Assembly the same bill seeking to establish State Police, was thrown out by the then legislature due to party interest by lawmakers; as many had feared that political opponents would use it in their favour.
The bill which is been reintroduce in the 10th Assembly is sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and 14 other lawmakers.
The proposed private members’ bill 18 clauses, seeking to alter Sections 34, 35, 39, 42, 84, 89, 129, 153, 197, 214, 215 and 216 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to  transfer Police from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative List, with a view to effectively empower States to have State-controlled policing.
Leading the debate on general principles of the bill on Tuesday at plenary, Rep. Tolani Shagaya, representing IlotinWest/Asa Federal Constituency of Kwara state, decried that Nigeria, a federation of 36 States and Federal Capital Territory, with 774 LGAs, over 250 ethnic nationalities, more than 200 million citizens and a vast terrain spanning over 920,000 square kilometres, sadly still operates a single centralised police system that employs less than 400,000 police officers and men.
“There is no gainsaying that the nation’s security architecture is under immense pressure and always overwhelmed”, he lamented.
According to him, “The bill emerges as a necessary response to several calls for a decentralised and community-oriented approach to law enforcement. It seeks to navigate the complex landscape of security challenges by empowering our States with the means to address issues unique to their localities.
“This proposed alteration represents not just a legal adjustment to our grundnorm, but a visionary leap towards a safer, more secure, and harmonious Nigeria.”
Shagaya explained that the proposed bill seeks to introduce a comprehensive framework to ensure cohesion as well as accountability and uniform standards between the Federal Police and State Police.
“The provision of prescribed rigorous safeguards preventing unwarranted interference by the Federal Police in State Police Affairs, emphasising collaboration and intervention only under well-defined circumstances.
“The establishment of State Police Service Commissions as distinct from the Federal Police Service Commission with clearly defined roles and jurisdictions.
“A re-calibration of the National Police Council to include the Chairmen of the State Police Service Commissions, emphasising the collaborative and consultative nature of policing in our federal system.
“A recognition of the possible financial challenges which may be faced by States Police, by empowering the Federal Government to provide grants or aids subject to the approval of the National Assembly, thus ensuring adequate resources for effective policing, etc”, the lawmaker added.
Contributing to the debate, Rep. Ahmed Jaha, lawmaker representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency of Borno State, described the bill as timely, eve as he argued that security is the responsibility of all the Citizens.
Rep. Jaha stated that with community policing and Nigerian police working in tandem, they will rid our communities of all forms of crime.
Alss speaking in favour of the bill, Chairman House Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson, underscored the need to empower the Nigeria Police to license any State that expressed intent and furthermore meet the requirements set by the Police Service Commission.
Rep. Benson also noted that the Nigeria Police may renew the license or otherwise if such a State abused the licence.
He therefore expressed optimism that when put in place, State Police license would reduce unemployment and reduce the burden on recurrent expenditure from the Federal Government.
On his part, Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, lawmaker representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State, supported the bill, even as he lamented that Nigeria has had enough of insecurity.
Rep. Abiante said that establishing State Police is a sure way of guaranteeing security of lives and property amidst current security challenges.
The lawmaker also expressed optimism that the proposed bill when passed into law will cure the tragedy of military decree of 1966, he therefore underscored the need for deliberate efforts toward ensuring that the law is well drafted to meet the security needs of the country.
Rep. Ali Madaki, lawmaker representing Dala Federal Constituency of Kano State, who was a member of the 7th Assembly, confessed to be part of the death of State Police bill in the seventh Assembly, and revealed that the fear was to avert a situation where State Governors will use the State Police for political opponents.
Madaki admitted that the whole country was on fire, and that the bill when passed into law will enable each State to deploy the State Police in such a manner to address their peculiarities.
Rep. Marie Ebikake, lawmaker representing Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency of Bayelsa state, supporting the bill, urged lawmakers not to entertain any fears when the bill is passed because the benefits are  overwhelmingly outweighs the disadvantages.
She explained that so many States have security outfits, that could be strengthened and incorporated into the State Police
Also speaking, Rep. Sada Soli, representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, said that about 21 States including Benue, Taraba States are caught up in the socio-political, ethno-religious crises across the country.
He noted that some of the States clamouring for the establishment of State Police are not economically viable, but he however, acknowledged that State Police is a noble idea, though capital intensive.
Rep. Soli, cited a situation where a State Governor who denied a political opponent from landing at the airport, hence argued that such a Governor is capable of using the State Police for coercion of the opposition.
To this end, he urged the lawmakers to put all issues into perspective before enacting the law.
Rep. Ademorin Kuye, representing Shomolu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, argued that with 400,000 Policemen to 200 million Nigerians, Nigeria is under-policed.
He noted that deployment of a Police officer to a State that he is not familiar with will make him inefficient and ineffective in the course of discharging his duties.
Chief Whip of the House, Rep. Usman Kumo, said there was the need to address some of the grey areas and concerns raised during previous Assemblies.
Rep. Kumo who lamented over the incessant killings across the country, berated Federal Government for failing to provide funding for the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigerian Police.
He stressed that the current 400,000 Police workforce is inadequate, and argued that the long stay of military has put Nigerian Police which has the sole responsibility of providing internal security across the country in the background.
He said that there is nothing that stops the Federal Government from declaring state of emergency in the Nigerians police with a view to recruit adequate number of youths into the security agencies.
Also speaking, Rep. Benedict Itanabene, representing Okpe/Saoele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta state called for the establishment of a distinct police structure for over 20 years.
He further noted that mere use of State Police sends wrong signal that Governors will be in control of the State Police.
He therefore urged the House to delete the word ‘State’ from the bill, and called for decentralization of the Federal Police by using Police Command.
In his intervention, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary urged the lawmakers to put the nation above personal or sentimental gains.
The House unanimously passed the bill and the presiding officer refered the bill to the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution amendment for further legislative action.
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Finally, Senator Shehu Sani Dumps PDP For APC

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central at the 8th Assembly, Shehu Sani, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, welcomed Sani alongside 49 other political stalwarts who defected to the APC at the Murtala Square at a mega rally held on Saturday.

Sani stated that the defectors would enjoy the same rights and privileges as other party members, stressing there was no difference between a party member who joined it recently and those who were in APC ten years ago.

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Sani urged the decampees to notify their supporters of the readiness of APC to accept them into the party as their doors were still open to receive more defectors.

According to him, the popularity and acceptability of APC is because of its just leadership at both the state and federal levels.

He said: “Someone who joined APC today and the one who has been a foundation member 10 years ago, they are of the same status. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges.

“Politics is different from governance. We will be fair to all, whether or not they voted for us, because that is the oath of office that we swore to uphold as leaders.”

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Governor Sani, who argued that leaders were not infallible and were bound to make mistakes like anyone, pleaded with the leaders to always point out their mistakes to correct them.

The Governor reminded the APC faithful that the leaders would be held accountable hereafter regarding how they led the people God entrusted to them.

Prominent amongst those who decamped to APC were former Governor of the state, Alhaji Muktar Ramalan-Yero, Sen. Shehu Sani, Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, the gubernatorial candidate of NNPP in the 2023 General Elections, also former gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Sani Sha’aban, Sen. Danjuma Laah who represented Zone three at the Senate on the platform of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, former National Organising Secretary of PDP and Amb. Sule Buba, former Nigeria’s Envoy to South Korea.

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Gates of Hell to Open in Gaza: Netanyahu cautions Hamas

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to unleash devastating consequences on Gaza if Hamas fails to return all hostages, warning that the “gates of hell” will open if the militant group does not comply.

In a joint statement with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel and the US have a shared strategy to tackle the Palestinian militants, and that Hamas’s military capability and political rule in Gaza will be eliminated. The Israeli Prime Minister also expressed his commitment to bringing all hostages home and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

Netanyahu’s comments come as US President Donald Trump has proposed a bold and controversial plan for Gaza’s future, suggesting that the US take over the territory and transform it into a “Riviera of the Middle East”.

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First priority for Trump is to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack

The plan, which involves resettling Gaza’s two million Palestinian residents in other countries, has sparked widespread outrage and criticism. Rubio, however, defended Trump’s proposal, saying that it represents a bold and courageous vision for Gaza’s future, one that breaks away from the “tired ideas of the past”.

The US Secretary of State emphasized that Hamas cannot continue to operate as a military or government force, and that it must be eradicated. He also stressed that the first priority for Trump is to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. With tensions escalating in the region, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold, but one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction could be devastating.

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Tigran Gambaryan: A Despicable Agent of Malice Against Ginger Onwusibe ,Colleagues

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A group of civil society organizations under the aegis of Alliance for credible legislative conduct has carpeted Tigran Gambaryan, an American personnel of Binance for attempting to soil the integrity and great reputation of some Nigerian congressmen over unfounded bribery allegations

Top parliamentarians from the Nigerian House of Representatives which include, Ginger Onwusibe who is Chairman House Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon Phillip Agbese ,Deputy spokesperson and Hon Peter Akpanke , are beign spotted by the American for alleged sleaze.

According to the group, the American is attempting to use cheap blackmail to hound and payback the lawmakers after they investigated him for various financial infractions and misdeeds in Nigeria

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“It is clear that Tigran Gambaryan having made solo attempts on behalf of Binance to commit huge financial crimes in Nigeria, and having failed miserably to have his way, which led to his investigation and ultimate incarceration, has now turned full circle to unleash a pound of flesh against patriotic Nigerian law makers,( who investigated him) which has now manifested in his fictional claims that he was asked to pay the sum of a $150 million bribe while he was in detention”, the group which is an affiliate of the United of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, stated

Alliance for Credible Legislative Conduct in a statement issued and signed by its President, Abdulrasheed Rufai, PhD and Secretary, Benson Alfred Akor, noted that Tigran was a drowning man who wants to drag credible Nigerian lawmakers along

They added that his case is a baffling orchestrated web of malice and a piece of garbage concocted against honourable members of House of Representatives, and as such should be disregarded by Nigerians.

*Below is the full text of the Press statement:*

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“Our attention was drawn to the recent allegations of bribery made by Tigran Gambaryan, an American personnel of Binance against Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes; Hon. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson, House of Representatives, and Hon. Peter Akpanke.

Having looked at the matter painstakingly and exhaustively, we discovered that Gambaryan, who was recently tried in Nigeria for financial crimes; held for months over allegations of money laundering and aiding criminal activities, and was released on humanitarian grounds, after the charges were dropped following U.S. government intervention, is indeed a despicable agent of malice.

It is clear that Tigran Gambaryan having made solo attempts on behalf of Binance to commit huge financial crimes in Nigeria, and having failed miserably to have his way, which led to his investigation and ultimate incarceration, has now turned full circle to unleash a pound of flesh against patriotic Nigerian law makers,( who investigated him) which has now manifested in his fictional claims that he was asked to pay the sum of a $150 million bribe while he was in detention.

Having dissected the position of both the Federal Government of Nigeria, and that of the House of Representatives about the unfortunate saga of Tigran Gambaryan and Binance, we as civil society organizations …… conclude, that what is playing out is a case of baffling orchestrated web of malice and a piece of garbage concocted against honourable members of House of Representatives.

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In the light of the above, we hereby use this medium to tell Nigerian people never to fall for the desperate antics of a man already in the pit of disgrace looking for who to rob with his mud.

In condemning this insane, ridiculous and absurd development, it is very obvious that
Tigran Gambaryan is simply on a calculative mission to create unwarranted tension within the National Assembly, embarrass and disrespect the Federal Government of Nigeria. This we will not allow to happen”

Signed:

ABDULRASHEED RUFAI PhD
PRESIDENT

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BENSON ALFRED AKOR
SECRETARY

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