Oduduwa News

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit {Taskforce} has said that Motorists who have developed the habit and passion for driving against traffic (One-way) should be bold and courageous enough to face the Mobile Court.

Speaking at the Agency’s Headquarters today at Safety Arena, Bolade Oshodi, Lagos, the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye in a swift reaction to an online video of one Mr. George Udeze on his Facebook page who alleged that Taskforce had impounded his White Honda Accord with registration number 03-566 DLA about 7 months ago, said that there was no iota of truth in the claim.

He said that the man in question’s vehicle was impounded for driving against traffic at Allen Avenue inward Opebi Road. He narrated that the man having discovered that there was traffic around the area, faced oncoming vehicles thereby creating a serious traffic bottleneck.

The Chairman further stated that all efforts by Taskforce Officials led by a Senior Police Officer to persuade him to roll down his vehicle window glass for possible engagement on why he had to do that, proved abortive, but rather than being civil in his approach and conduct, he started making several phone calls and kept them waiting for hours, mobilizing the general public against the agency’s officials and threatened to deal with them, having known the degree and the magnitude of the offence committed which attracts forfeiture of the vehicle to the State Government.

CSP Jejeloye stated that Mr. Udeze in his ungentlemanly posture stated in the report that he was afraid when he saw his Country Policemen controlling traffic for ease of his own mobility and doing their lawful duties, but rather than encourage them for the patriotic act due to traffic pressure on the road , he chose to see them in his own imagination as nothing but kidnappers when the likes of him had blocked free flow of traffic around the area by their selfish conduct.

‘’Let me emphasise here that you don’t need to be afraid of Policemen if you are doing the right things, afterall if your security is threatened you will still run to Police for safety of lives and property,” he said.

On the allegation that the vehicle had been confiscated for the past 7months, the Task Force Chairman responded that “Our duty is to effect the arrest of offender(s}, but we do not have the power to issue fines and penalties, it is a legal issue which has to be decided by a Court of competent jurisdiction.

“All efforts put in place by the Agency to let offenders bring their particulars forward to enable the Agency charge them to court always proved abortive. Some of them resort to lobbying the Agency Officials through several influences, cutting corners and monetary inducement to escape justice, and if it fails, they resort to blackmailing, needless media war and propaganda against the Agency’s officials; accusing them of extortions, assault, bribery and corruption.

“The era of settling traffic offenses (one-way) out of court is gone. If you are courageous and hard enough to drive against traffic, you must also be bold enough to face the Court for its consequences”, Jejeloye stated.

He emphasised that ‘‘traffic bottlenecks popularly known as (Go slow and Hold ups) are not natural, it is not created by God, but a product of a minute recklessness and two minutes impatience on the road.’’

The Taskforce Chairman urged traffic offenders to keep faith with the country’s Judicial system and summon courage to submit self for prosecution at the Court for the offence committed, saying it is better and cheaper for them to face the reality of the offence they committed, rather than being evasive or working assiduously to settle out of Court in order to sweep the issue under the carpet which is not acceptable to us. Nigerians are no fools.

In a related development, the Chairman stated that the Agency in its drive to rid the State of menace of Okada riders on It’s highways had impounded over 129 Motorcycles over the weekend.

He further said that the Agency will not condone any act of indiscipline and lawlessness from any recalcitrant okada operator on the restricted routes.

Meanwhile, the Agency in its drive to maintain a crime free festive season had again busted a crime syndicate who specialise in extorting unsuspecting members of public and arresting of Okada riders under the guise of being a security operative attached to Lagos State Taskforce.

One of the suspects, Emmanuel Okoh who operates between Ajah and Oshodi area of the state, was arrested kitted in Mobile Police uniform with tactical jacket at Oshodi during the Agency’s raid of blackspots and enforcement for compliance in the area as part of the efforts of the Agency to achieve zero tolerance to criminal activities during yuletide period.

All the suspects will be charged to court.

Jejeloye advised members of public to be vigilant, report any suspicious activities around them to the Agency and help the Agency in its drive to fish out fake policemen parading themselves as Taskforce officials.

He enjoined Lagosians to support the Agency in its efforts to instil discipline and achieve the State’s vision of zero tolerance for driving against traffic and other related offences.

Taskforce was created to maintain law, order and sanity where there is none. Enforcement of One-way traffic laws is not a tea party as the offender would do anything humanly possible to escape justice, and in the process the offender can kill, maim, cause serious injury to innocent members of the public in a bid to escape from the scene.

Driving against traffic is tantamount to attempted murder as unsuspecting road users may not notice the vehicle coming from the opposite direction.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday set up a four-member committee led by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) to raise a White Paper on the reports submitted by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for victims of SARS related abuses and other matters.

Other members of the committee are; Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mr. Segun Dawodu; Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure, Engr. (Mrs) Aramide Adeyoye and Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Mrs. Tolani Oshodi.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Committee would bring forward a White Paper within the next two weeks to be considered by the Lagos State Executive Council, pledging that the reports and recommendations will be made public and submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC) for discussion.

The Governor constituted the committee after receiving the two reports of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for victims of SARS related abuses and other matters presented to him at the Lagos House, Ikeja by chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (retired).

The two reports submitted by the Panel to Lagos State Government are on investigation on petitions on several abuses and killings by the Nigerian Police, especially the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the October 20, 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shootings during the EndSARS protests hijacked by hoodlums.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also reassured Nigerians, especially residents of Lagos that the Government’s action would be guided by the law and in the public interest.

The Governor, expressed hope that Lagos State government’s decision on the reports would bring complete healing, reconciliation and restitution.

“I am going to constitute a four-member committee immediately, which will be headed by the Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure and the Permanent Secretary, the Cabinet office.

“The four of them will immediately look through and bring forward a White Paper within the next two weeks that will be considered at the Lagos State Executive Council and would be gazetted as a white paper coming from the Panel of Inquiry.

“We will ensure that the recommendations that are coming out that will be turned into a white paper and would be made available to the public. We will do it appropriately so that history will judge us well and we will have a document that will stand the test of time. That is what the tribunal law says, so that it will be properly documented and gazetted in government’s records,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu who pointed out that the panel had operated independently, commended members of the Justice Okuwobi-led panel for a job well done and also expressed appreciation to Lagosians for their cooperation during the exercise, which lasted for almost a year.

Speaking earlier, Justice Okuwobi expressed deep appreciation to the Lagos State Government and all the stakeholders who appeared before the Panel. She also thanked members of the Panel for their uncommon resolve to bring closure to the assignment and good team work.

She said part of the recommendations of the panel is establishment of a body to take over human rights abuses in Lagos.

Justice Okuwobi, who disclosed that the panel awarded a total of N410 million to 70 victims of Police brutality, said 235 petitions were received with only 14 of it being on the alleged Lekki Shooting incident.

“As much as the panel desired to have taken all petitions, the ones that were not taken by the panel were those that did not comply to our rules, so in this report, we made recommendations for a body to take over human rights abuse cases in Lagos State,” she said.

It would be recalled Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on October 19, 2020 inaugurated the Judicial Panel of Inquiry to investigate alleged cases of brutality and human rights violations perpetrated by the Police and operatives of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The panel was also saddled with the investigation of the alleged shootings that took place on October 20, 2020, at the Lekki Tollgate.

CAPTIONS:

PIX 1/2: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (left), being presented with the report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry Report on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters by the Chairman of the Panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (Rtd) (right) while Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) (middle) watches on during the presentation of the panel report at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, November 15, 2021.

PIX 3 L-R: Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Jaji; Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) shortly after the presentation of the report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry Report on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, November 15, 2021.

PIX 4: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (5th right) flanked by Chairman, Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry Report on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters, Justice Doris Okuwobi (Rtd) (4th right); Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (5th left) with other members of the panel and State Executives, during the presentation of their report at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, November 15, 2021.

The Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola on Monday disclosed that his Administration’s Food Support Scheme had fed over 240,000 citizens of the State so far.

He said the Scheme has also helped to stimulate the economy of the State as local productions of goods had been tremendously boosted to enhance the socioeconomic activities in the State.

The initiative, according to him, has impacted greatly the lives of the beneficiaries, particularly the vulnerable citizens ranging from the aged, the windows, people living with disabilities, youths, among others, with the multiplier effect on the status of the State’s economy.

This is even as the State Government flagged off the eight edition of the Scheme at Local Government Service Commission, State Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.

Governor Oyetola, had in April, this year, inaugurated the ‘Osun Food Support Scheme’ to mitigate the adverse impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on 30,000 vulnerable citizens on a monthly basis.

Oyetola who said beneficiaries were drawn from the nooks and crannies of the State using the World Bank-sponsored Social Register, averred that the initiative was part of his promise to prioritise the welfare and the general well-being of the people

Speaking during the 8th edition of the distribution of the food items, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said his Administration has been gradually recording huge success in its frantic efforts to boost local food production, achieve food security and turn Osun to food basket of the Southwest region.

“This is the concept of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola who believes vehemently in the welfare of the people. As we all know, since the inception of this Administration in the last three years, salaries and pensions are being paid regularly while health sector and road infrastructure are in place. In addition to these initiatives, the concept of Osun Food Support Scheme came which saw 30,000 vulnerable citizens being given foods monthly.

“We know the foods given can not last anybody for a month, but it is still a taste of dividends of democracy. We know that by the Omoluabi ethos prevalent in Osun, it is very difficult for a vulnerable who is given a bag to eat it alone; a minimum of two or three other relatives will share from it.

“We are doing the 8th edition this month and as we promised at the inception of this Scheme, the gesture will continue. As it is, over 240,000 citizens have benefited from this Scheme. The number is obviously more as every beneficiary will share with their neighbours and extended families. We can’t therefore really quantify the actual number of the beneficiaries.

“We are working hard to ensure that the food items get to the targeted beneficiaries through the efforts of the distribution committee. There is a list of beneficiaries with their telephone numbers and contact addresses,” he added.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Engr. Olalekan Badmus, commended the initiative which he said had made meaningful impact on the lives of the people.

According to him, the Scheme has been designed with a view to effecting meaningful impact and adding value to other sectors of the economy, particularly the agriculture and small scale enterprises.

Speaking on the fund being expended by the State Government on the Scheme on a monthly basis, Badmus noted that an average of N100million is being spent on a monthly basis.

He said the State has injected about N800million into her economy since the commencement of the programme in the last eight months.

“This initiative has been very impactful and if you look at the the total integration of the process, you will agree with me that different lives have been touched through this programme. Apart from the products itself, we have people that are doing the layoffs and those that are doing the uploading and offloading as well as the distributors that we are buying the products from.

“So, you will see that it has touched different lives. As of today, we have different people that have come to pick these foods from different places.

“From what we have, the programme costs us an average of 100 million naira every month, and this is the 8th edition. As it was emphasised before, our effort is actually on the impact on the people particularly the vulnerable citizens and poor of the poorest.

“We have taken a step further by improving on what we are presently doing to reach more people through well- coordinated efforts. We have done 210,000 already and with additional 30,000 today, it means that we have reached 240,000 beneficiaries and households.

“The beauty in this is that each of the households has minimum of two persons benefitting from the scheme on a monthly basis. We are also glad about the feedback being received from the beneficiaries as reflected in the prayers being offered to show their gratitude.

“We have the data and records of the beneficiaries of these foods and we do the random verification to confirm the receipt of the foods”, he added.