Police restore Lagos Speaker Meranda’s protection, claim neutrality in Assembly leadership tussle
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Police have dismissed reports that the withdrawal of the security detail of Lagos Assembly Speaker Mojisola Meranda was politically motivated, with Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh explaining that the withdrawal was for personnel audit, and confirming that her police protection has been restored.
Jimoh made the clarification at a briefing, reiterating that there is an ongoing personnel and arms audit by the police across the country.
Meranda’s security detail at her residence and escorts were withdrawn on Thursday morning causing controversy, which was heightened as former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa stormed the Assembly complex later in the day with police protection, and took over the Speaker’s Office from where he was impeached in January.
Meranda’s security detail was withdrawn just as that of Obasa was reinstated and followed him to the Assembly complex.
Jimoh explained that Obasa wrote to the police alleging threats to his life and requested armed protection.
He stressed that the police have maintained neutrality and stayed out of politics in the Assembly leadership issue, urging the public not to drag the police into political matters.
“There is an ongoing police personnel audit of our personnel attached to eminent personalities, individuals and groups, and their legal states,” Jimoh said, per The Nation.
“This is a statutory laid down procedure, which is not limited to Lagos State. The same practice is going on in various commands across the country without any issues. This is to ensure that the police personnel are accounted for, including their firearms and other crime fighting equipment in their possession.
“We are doing this to ensure that they are on their duty post and that their firearms and equipment under their custody is not misused.
“This exercise will equally avail the command the opportunity to discover where police personnel are posted without approval, and those that are on illegal duties and unapproved duty posts, so that we can withdraw those on unapproved duty posts, illegal duty and invalid approvals, and redeploy them on duty to police posts, police stations, police divisions and area commands to provide security and safety for all residents and visitors.
“The ongoing police personnel audit is done in public interest and not with any consideration except for the safety of all in the state.
“As we speak, the audit of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Meranda has been completed and the form-armed police personnel attached to her from the State Police Command have been returned back to her for her protection.
“It is pertinent to state that the ongoing police personnel audit has been on for several days now, and prominent personalities and individuals have been complying with the process. The exercise, once again, is not aimed or targeted at any individuals.
“For prominent personalities or business executives that have no valid approval, or having policemen that are with them under unapproved beats, they are implored to revalidate their approval for those with invalid approval, or apply afresh to the Inspector General of Police for their request to be approved without any delay.
“However, for those whose police personnel are still undergoing the audit process with us, the outcome of the audit will enable the next line of action to be taken by them.
“I want to send a note of warning that any prominent persons or individuals without approval for police deployment to them, their personnel will be withdrawn throughout the state.
“The Special Protection Unit Department at the Force Headquarters have been mandated to provide security coverage for every Nigerian needing police protection in the country, and will henceforth provide deployment of police personnel for guard duties and personal protection will be centrally done throughout the country.
“In the ongoing personnel audit of some personalities in Lagos, approval for their police personnel attached to them cannot be traced and verified, but they can still apply to the Inspector General of Police for the approval of their request and application of their police need.
“This will be treated on merit as stipulated in the Police Regulations of Guards and Protection of VIPs, Non-VIPs, and other individuals.”
Protection application from Obasa over threats to his life
“There was application from Hon. Mudashiru Obasa on threats to his life and that of his family in the last few days. It was on the basis of that application that police personnel were approved to him for that purpose only.
“The Lagos State Police Command is not aware or in the know of how and where the office of the Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly was broken into.
“The Lagos State Police Command is neutral in the whole episode and will continue to do so to ensure law and order and public safety and security throughout the length and breadth of Lagos State.
“This we will not be tired of doing at the Lagos State Police Command. I hereby appeal for calm, for everyone to go about their lawful duty and other responsibilities peacefully.
“The police deployment at the Lagos State House of Assembly has been reinforced and fortified with more Mobile Police Force (PMF) personnel sent. Counter-terrorism units are equally being increased and sent there.
“Special protection units are equally attached there. The Bomb Squad and the Conventional Police Team and Detectives were increased and sent to the State House of Assembly to fortify the security. We also stationed Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and other vehicular patrol teams to prevent any untoward incidents.
“Whatsoever has been done in the Lagos State House of Assembly today, the Lagos State Police Command is not in the know. Police do not have responsibility in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly.
“We are limited to providing adequate security coverage for the House of Assembly and not to be involved in any other matters of politics inside the premises, except if there is complaint that borders on crimes and safety.
“The Lagos State Police Command will continue to be neutral and not to get involved in politics at whatever level. Security situation in the House of Assembly is firmly under control and normalcy has been fully restored.
“Lagosians are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses and other responsibilities without fear as the police are completely resolved to maintain law and order throughout the state, to engender public safety, public security.”
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