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SWAT replaces SARS: Stakeholders okay 5-point demand of protesters; IGP summons all SARS operatives to Abuja

Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu and President Muhammadu Buhari

It took flaring tempers, the death of protesters and policemen, but finally, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has ordered all personnel of the defunct SARS to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja for debriefing, psychological and medical examination.

But he has, again, set up another group, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit to replace the inglorious SARS. Members of the SWAT unit will undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment

According to a statement by Force Headquarters spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police Frank Mba, Adamu acted with his rights in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020.

Mba adds, “The officers are expected to undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.

The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counselling and Support Unit (PCSU), a Unit, which henceforth shall engage in psychological management, re-orientation and training of officers of the Force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.

“The Unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from amongst psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, Public Relations practitioners, Civil Society and other Human Rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.

“Meanwhile, the IGP has set up a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team that will fill the gaps arising from the dissolution of the defunct SARS.

“Prospective members of this new team will also undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment. They are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.

“While personnel from the Police Commands in the South-East and the South-South will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers State, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-West will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa State and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, respectively.

“While reaffirming his irrevocable commitment towards the successful and holistic implementation of the Police reforms, the IGP enjoins members of the public, particularly protesting citizens to exercise restraint and allow measures being put in place to come to fruition and engender a Police Force that would meet the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry.”

Earlier, Adamu convened a meeting with stakeholders, agreeing to meet #EndSARS protesters’ demands.

According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, the new initiatives followed directives by President Muhammadu Buhari on dissolution of Special Anti-Robbery Squad and immediate response to yearnings of citizens

One of the demands acceded to by the stakeholders meeting include halting use of force against protesters and the unconditional release of arrested citizens.

The demands, according to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, include halting use of force against protesters and unconditional release of arrested citizens.

The meeting, organized by the Office of the Inspector General of Police and National Human Rights Commission, was a multi-stakeholders’ forum attended by leaders and representatives of civil society organisations in Nigeria, activists from the entertainment industry and the #EndSARS movement and development partners.

The Ministry of Police Affairs and Police Service Commission were also present at the meeting that affirmed that the five-point demands of the protesters and the #EndSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the Government.

A communiqué of the Stakeholders’ Meeting said:

“Following the public protests regarding various forms of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the consequent disbandment of the unit by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, there arose the need for stakeholders engagement to build trust and restore public confidence in law enforcement.

“The agitations also brought to the fore, the need to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

“The Forum was addressed by the Inspector General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission.

“The Forum collectively: welcomed the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; reaffirmed the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest; further affirmed the sanctity of life of every Nigerian and the role of the Police in protecting this right; affirms that the five-point demands of the protesters and the #EndSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the Government.’’

According to the communiqué signed by the Inspector General of Police and Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, Esq, the Forum noted that the dissolution of SARS presents an opportunity to embark on comprehensive reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigerian Police Force as a modern, responsive and citizens-centred law enforcement organisation.

“The Forum further notes that the proposed reforms should be anchored under the basis of the White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad which was jointly authored by the National Human Rights Commission, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police Force.

“The Forum affirms that reform proposals for the Nigerian Police Force will be based on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and existing legislations such as the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2010 amongst others.

“Following the dissolution of SARS, the Forum calls for the following immediate steps to be taken in restoring public confidence and trust in the Police:

▪︎ An order by the Inspector General of Police to all State Commands to halt the use of force against protesters;

▪︎ Unconditional release of arrested protesters and citizens;

▪︎Open communication and outreach to citizens to establish trust and confidence and;

▪︎ roadmap for the implementation of the White Paper of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the SARS.

“The Forum welcomed the proposal to set up an Independent Investigation Panel to look into the violations of human rights by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Nigerian Police. The Forum agrees to the setting up of this Independent Panel by the National Human Rights Commission within the next one week. An open call for Memoranda from members of the public whose rights have been violated by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Police will be released by the Commission within one week.

“The Forum recommends the psychological evaluation, training and retraining of disbanded SARS officials prior to re-deployment.

“The Forum resolves to set up the following Technical Sub-Committees to design an implementation roadmap and work plan for the implementation of the White Paper: Training, Capacity and Re-orientation; Logistics: Infrastructure, Communications and Technology; Arrest, Detention, and Investigations; Regulations, Oversight and Accountability and Financing and Partnerships.’’

The communiqué stated that the sub-Committees will be supported by the National Human Rights Commission and other civil society organisations.

FG accepts 5-point demand of #EndSARS protesters

The presidential panel on the reform of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) has accepted the five-point demand of the #EndSARS protesters, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, has said in a press statement.

Over the past few days, there have been renewed calls for the scrapping of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) of the Nigeria police force over reports of brutality and extrajudicial killings.

Following the protests, Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), had disbanded the SARS unit.

President Muhammadu Buhari had also issued a directive, calling for a reform of the police force.

However, the protests have continued, with activists issuing a five-point demand which include release of all persons arrested and justice for victims of police brutality.

Other demands are “setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct (within 10 days); psychological evaluation of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed, and increase police salary so that they can be adequately compensated for protecting lives and property of citizens”.

According to the statement issued on Tuesday by Adesina, at a meeting convened by the IGP with stakeholders, it was agreed that the demands of the protesters would be met.

The meeting, organised by the office of the IGP and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), had in attendance representatives of civil society organisations, activists from the entertainment industry and the #EndSARS movement, among others.

Also present at the meeting were officials of the ministry of police affairs and the police service commission.

According to Adesina, a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, which held on Monday, focused on implementation of the recommendations of the presidential panel.

“Following the public protests regarding various forms of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the consequent disbandment of the unit by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, there arose the need for stakeholder engagement to build trust and restore public confidence in law enforcement,” it read.

“The agitations also brought to the fore, the need to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

“The Forum was addressed by the Inspector General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission.

“The Forum collectively: welcomed the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; reaffirmed the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest; further affirmed the sanctity of life of every Nigerian and the role of the Police in protecting this right; affirms that the five-point demands of the protesters and the ENDSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the Government.’’

According to Adesina, the communiqué which was signed by the IGP and Tony Ojukwu, NHRC executive secretary, noted that the dissolution of SARS presents an opportunity to embark on comprehensive reforms aimed at repositioning the force as a “modern, responsive and citizens-centred law enforcement organisation”.

“The Forum further notes that the proposed reforms should be anchored under the basis of the White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad which was jointly authored by the National Human Rights Commission, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police Force,” it read.

“The Forum affirms that reform proposals for the Nigerian Police Force will be based on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and existing legislations such as the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2010, amongst others.

“Following the dissolution of SARS, the Forum calls for the following immediate steps to be taken in restoring public confidence and trust in the Police: An order by the Inspector General of Police to all State Commands to halt the use of force against protesters; unconditional release of arrested protesters and citizens; open communication and outreach to citizens to establish trust and confidence and a roadmap for the implementation of the White Paper of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the SARS.

“The Forum welcomed the proposal to set up an Independent Investigation Panel to look into the violations of human rights by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Nigerian Police. The Forum agrees to the setting up of this Independent Panel by the National Human Rights Commission within the next one week. An open call for Memoranda from members of the public whose rights have been violated by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Police will be released by the Commission within one week.

“The Forum recommends the psychological evaluation, training and retraining of disbanded SARS officials prior to re-deployment. The Forum resolves to set up the following Technical Sub-Committees to design an implementation roadmap and work plan for the implementation of the White Paper: Training, Capacity and Re-orientation; Logistics: Infrastructure, Communications and Technology; Arrest, Detention, and Investigations; Regulations, Oversight and Accountability and Financing and Partnerships.’’

TheCable

#EndSARS: Soldiers seize ARISE TV camera at national assembly

Officers of the Nigerian Army at the national assembly have seized a camera and microphones belonging to ARISE TV at the #EndSARS protest currently holding at the assembly.

The protesters told TheCable reporter on site that they were not leaving the assembly until they get the camera and all that was taken away from them.

The cameraman told TheCable that they took all his gadgets, save his microphone “used to go live”.

After over an hour at the national assembly, Aisha Yesufu, a socio-political activist present at the protest told the protesters that she just got information that the camera has now been returned.

You can watch more from the protest ground via our Facebook live feed here:

https://web.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=390948792283335&ref=watch_permalink

TheCable

Restructuring: Lifeline For A Faltering Republic (1)

By Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN

For some months now, there has been a growing agitation for the restructuring of the entity called Nigeria. In times past, there has been lots of clamour from Nigerians, for the All Progressive Congress (APC) led government, to fulfil its promise of restructuring, to the nation. By way of reminder, the APC had covenanted in its Manifesto, before the 2015 general elections, to “initiate ACTION to amend our Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit.” You would well agree with me that you can only “entrench” that which does not hitherto exist. So, the APC was well aware that Nigeria has not been operating “true Federalism”, and thus, the major campaign theme for the 2015 election for the APC, was devolution of powers. The song then, from prominent APC stalwarts, was true federalism. It is thus understandable why the party has been under severe criiticism, for abandoning its own Manifesto, after it secured power, following its victory in the 2015 and 2019 general elections. It is totally uncharitable, for any political party to climb to power on the altar of sloganeering and deceit. And that is exactly what the APC has done, such that six years down the lane after it took over the reins of power, Nigeria is still neck deep in unitary federalism.

In the words of the learned authors of Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to RESTRUCTURE is “to change the makeup, organization or pattern of” something, meaning that restructuring involves some fundamental alteration of the existing structure. The structure of the entity presently called Nigeria is spelt out in a document referred to as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. Although it claims to be a federal Constitution, it was in fact enacted by the military regime of General Abdulsalam Abubakar (Retd.), as a document imposing a unitary system of government on the people of Nigeria, by concentrating all powers in the federal government and leaving the States and the local governments totally powerless, and I dare say, rudderless.

Presently, virtually all regions in Nigeria are in support of and yearning for restructuring, through a fundamental rejigging of the entire fabric of what is left of Nigeria. What we should ponder upon now is why the entity called Nigeria is no longer suitable to the South and the North, given the latest agitations from all the regions. The simple answer, to my mind, is that Nigeria is in the hands of a cabal, a tiny few, cutting across tribe and religion, spread and entrenched within the business sector and indeed all important aspects of our national life, not excluding even the legal profession. They have cornered the commonwealth of the nation, they are in charge of everything useful to our economic life and because of this, they are not directly affected by the sufferings and problems that the masses go through, which in itself explains why they are vehemently opposed to the idea of any form of change at all, relishing as it were, the booties falling their way from the status quo.

In its section 16 (1), the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states expressly that “the State shall:
(a) harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, dynamic and self-reliant economy; for every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.
(d) that the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of a few individuals or of a group.”

As you would well agree with me, Nigeria is running exactly on the opposite of the constitutional imperative stated above, given that the national resources of this great nation are only circulating between very few individuals and their favoured agents. We surely cannot continue in this form at all and expect things to remain normal. No. A time is coming, and it is nearer than it used to be, when the people will revolt, when the gunpowder will explode, when tolerance will be exhausted and endurance will thin out. No one should take the people for granted permanently. So, our leaders should listen to the voices of reason and do the needful very urgently. Without any doubt, APC claimed to have set up a committee on restructuring without any meaningful result, playing political tricks on the people and dancing on the tribulations of its followers. For sure, the national assembly is currently on its regular weather-beaten track of constitutional amendment, with almost very predictable results. This must stop. We cannot keep taking people round in endless circles all the time and think that they are fools. Nigerians are choking right now! It is becoming totally unbearable and something has to give.

Someone would well ask me, why do we need restructuring? Please come along with me, on a small exercise. Section 153 (1) of the Constitution established the following federal agencies:

Independent National Electoral Commission Council of State
Federal Character Commission Federal Civil Service Commission
Code of Conduct Bureau Federal Judicial Service Commission
National Defence Council National Economic Council
National Judicial Council National Population Commission
National Security Council Nigerian Police Council
Police Service Commission Federal Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission

From all the above, it can be seen that the powers of the federation called Nigeria are all concentrated in either this “federal” institution or that “national” agency. In fact, some states do not have any agency as such, of their own, established for any purpose, other than these federal bodies. Not stopping there, the Constitution then finally castrated the states and the local governments, by enacting the following provisions, in section 4:

“4 – (2) The National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Federation or any part thereof with respect to any matter included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.”

Now, let us travel to the Second Schedule of the Constitution, to examine some of the matters concentrated in the hands of the federal government to the detriment of the rest of the federation.

EXCLUSIVE LEGISLATIVE LIST

“Arms, Ammunitions and Explosives, Aviation,
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Banks, Commercial and Industrial Monopolies
Control of Capital Issues Copyright, Currency, Customs and Excise Duties
Defence, Drugs and Poisons Evidence, Exchange Control, Export Duties,
Fishing and Fisheries, Immigration Incorporation of bodies corporate, Insurance, Labour, Trade Unions, etc
Maritime shipping and navigation, Meteorology,
Military, Mines and Minerals, oil fields, oil mining, natural gas,
National Parks, Nuclear energy, Passports and Visas,
Patents, Trade Marks, Business names, Pensions, Gratuities,
Police and Government Security Services Posts and Telegraphs and Telephones,
Prisons, Public Holidays, Quarantine Railways, Regulation of Political Parties,
Stamp Duties, Taxation, Marriages, Trade and Commerce, Inland Waterways,
Weights and Measures Wireless Broadcasting and Television, etc.”

The existing structure of Nigeria from the above table, is that everything is in the hands and under the control of the federal government; the states and local governments do not exist at all, as far as the Constitution is concerned. This is the reason why the governors don’t want state police, because they simply don’t have the funds to run it. And it is the same reason why they are against minimum wage, autonomy for the judiciary and the local government. Everything that generates income in Nigeria resides in the federal government, which is controlling even domestic matters such as marriage. What kind of federation is that, where the other federating units have no capacity for survival or any chance of self-sustenance? It is a federation where the federal government sits upon all resources and then begins to hand out bailouts to the other federating units. So, in point of fact, there is nothing like the Federal Republic of Nigeria at all, but rather the Federal Government of Nigeria. No state can handle electricity generation or distribution, they cannot set up telephone companies or even run television or radio stations, or even attempt to regulate the mines and minerals in their domain. Is that a true federation? What is the federal government doing with banking, advertisement, waterways, railways and even electricity?
How do we run a system whereby the federal government appoints judges for the States and the federal government controls the security of the States, to the extent that the governor is totally powerless if the Commissioner of Police of the State decides not to obey his lawful directives as the chief security officer of the State? Why will anybody insist on perpetuating this lopsided arrangement except of course he is an enemy of the people? This is what is promoting corruption, as the fastest way to sudden wealth in Nigeria presently is to be connected to the federal government one way or the other, through one of those moribund agencies that have no relevance to the lives of the people. How do we sustain this parasitic system that takes away true development from our people, simply because some privileged few are feeding fat on the commonwealth?

The immediate solution is in genuine restructuring, not this surface attempt of one step every year, as is being executed by the National Assembly in the name of constitutional amendment. We must encourage the President and the legislators to go the whole hug and break down the Constitution into a workable template that can deliver true federalism, for our collective dream of a true Nigeria, as stated in the APC Manifesto. The President should not block his ears to the cries of all our people. He has proved himself to be man enough to touch the sacred cows, so he should confront the monster of the faltering imbalance called Nigeria. It is the only lifeline to rescue the sinking ship.

I Abolished and Rebuilt the Police; The United States Can Do the Same

I Abolished and Rebuilt the Police. The United States Can Do the Same.

The former president of Georgia explains how to restore public trust and beat corruption.

By Mikheil Saakashvili

After Georgia’s Rose Revolution in 2004, I became president of a failed state. Law enforcement agencies functioned like criminal gangs. Officers demanded bribes, trafficked narcotics and weapons, and worked for political and business elites as a mercenary security force. Georgia was a textbook example of “predatory policing”: Police did not perform the basic responsibilities of ensuring public safety, instead enriching themselves and their patrons by extorting citizens. A 2003 survey found that just 2.3 percent of Georgians held a positive view of police. In just a few years, we transformed this—offering a model for other countries, such as the United States, struggling with police reform.

The corruption of law enforcement empowered organized criminals, known in the former Soviet Union as vory v zakone, literally “thieves in law,” to fill the void. Gang leaders served not only as de facto police but also as judge, jury, and executioner. The police themselves were notorious for collaborating with organized crime. Suspicion of state institutions was deeply rooted in Georgian society: A survey of schoolchildren in 1993 found that a quarter of them wanted to be thieves in law when they grew up. Those youth had witnessed police systematically exploiting their communities. Of course, they held gangsters in higher regard than law enforcement.

Given that reality, police reform was not only a matter of restructuring institutions or implementing better policies. We had to change the mentality of a broken, cynical, and fearful society. Before people could begin to trust the police, we—the new political elites—had to earn their trust. Challenging the status quo was not enough. We had to destroy it and build something better. And we had to do it quickly. After the Rose Revolution, Georgian society united to demand reform. Reforms mean nothing without results that people can see.

The first priority was to seize back control of state security functions from organized crime. Vano Merabishvili, then-interior minister, announced: “We will confiscate from all thieves in law the palaces they built with their dirty money and put police stations in their place.” And we did. Over a billion dollars’ worth of stolen property was recovered from thieves and returned to the state budget. New police stations were built all over Georgia, with floor-to-ceiling glass. This wasn’t just an aesthetic choice—building trust in law enforcement requires transparency.

Simultaneously, we dismantled the Soviet legacy of politicized policing and replaced it with equitable law enforcement. We eliminated redundant agencies and those beyond hope of rehabilitation. The Ministry of State Security, a KGB relic, was dissolved. We disbanded the Traffic Police, firing every one of the thousands of officers who had acted as state-sanctioned highway robbers. We replaced them with an entirely new force of Patrol Police, who had no background in law enforcement and thus no ties to old, corrupted elites. Recruits had to pass a competitive examination and complete a course in criminal procedure code. They were trained in persuasion, negotiation, and mediation skills to minimize the use of force.

In restaffing the streamlined law enforcement agencies, we chose quality over quantity. The total number of Ministry of Internal Affairs employees decreased from around 56,000 to 33,000. Violent crime fell by 66 percent after reforms were implemented. Carjackings and auto thefts, once commonplace, nearly disappeared. The overall crime rate dropped by over 50 percent, making Georgia one of the world’s safest countries in the world. We hadn’t needed so many police. We only needed good police.

Before my government’s reforms, talented people who wanted to serve their communities would never have considered careers in law enforcement. We had to change that. Without the right people, even the best policies would be doomed to fail. Besides revamping the hiring process, we established a Police Academy, issued modern uniforms, and imported new squad cars and equipment. These investments improved morale and professionalism of personnel.

At last, professional police earned professional salaries. Before my presidency, police officers were paid just $44 per month—with the unspoken expectation that they would supplement their meager incomes with bribes. By reducing the size of the force, jettisoning agencies and ministries, and hiring only qualified candidates, we increased salaries of police officers nearly tenfold. Now that officers were fairly compensated, we enforced zero tolerance for corruption. Public employees did not enjoy any special treatment from the criminal justice system. The Ministry of Internal Affairs created a reality TV show to broadcast raids at the homes of corrupt officers.

With these tactics, some time-tested and some unconventional, we managed to break the backbone of the post-Soviet patronage system.

With these tactics, some time-tested and some unconventional, we managed to break the backbone of the post-Soviet patronage system.

 Police no longer exploited the people whom they took an oath to protect. In place of cash bribes, they gained the public’s trust. At the end of my presidency in 2013, law enforcement ranked among the most respected institutions in the country, with an 87 percent approval rating. This figure was one of the highest in the world.

If leading Georgia from a failed state to, in the World Bank’s estimation, the “world’s best reformer” taught me one thing, it’s that half-measures don’t work. Those who benefit from the status quo will always abhor change. And vested interests tend to fight incremental measures with the same ferocity as they resist dramatic overhauls. So when the moment is ripe, why accept incremental progress when you can seize the opportunity for real transformation?

The push in some American cities to “defund the police” constitutes a dramatic overhaul, at least as bold as firing an entire small country’s police force. But, unlike post-revolutionary Georgia, most Americans do not support such a drastic measure. Cutting funds for police departments could result in privatization of security, with the wealthy hiring personal guards while the poor bear the brunt of increased crime. These risks deserve serious consideration—take it from someone who once lived in a country where mercenary forces owned by oligarchs and gangsters ruled the streets.

Creative destruction requires a better replacement for the current system. Perhaps in certain cities, alternatives to traditional policing could be tested. Innovative policies can be piloted in localities and, if successful, may be replicated and scaled across the United States. Georgia’s population is about 3.7 million—not much more than the Minneapolis metro area. But size alone does not explain Georgia’s success. When I was elected, the people of Georgia gave me a mandate to destroy a system that no longer worked for them. The top-down transformation of law enforcement was possible because citizens and government united to achieve it.

The United States today is much more fragmented than Georgia was in 2004. But as the massive ongoing protests demonstrate, Americans are dissatisfied with the status quo. According to recent polls, two-thirds of Americans think their country is headed in the wrong direction. Change seems urgent and necessary. But what kind of change will work for America?

First, transparency is key. Police departments nationwide must operate under clear, succinct, uniform guidelines. A set of national standards should be developed for training officers on crisis management and conflict resolution; federal funding should be contingent on local departments meeting these standards. Technology can enhance transparency and rebuild trust. Civilians are now driving the police accountability movement by livestreaming videos of misconduct from their smartphones. Departments could use the same technology for internal accountability. Police could be required to wear body cameras that continually upload footage to the cloud for monitoring by law enforcement agencies and independent experts.

Second, those who enforce the law cannot be above the law.

Second, those who enforce the law cannot be above the law.

 The doctrine of “qualified immunity,” which has drawn criticism for protecting officers accused of misconduct from legal repercussions, can undermine public trust in police. While acknowledging that officers must sometimes make split-second, life-or-death decisions, and that human error is inevitable, the legal system should not enshrine double standards.

Third, a solid public relations strategy is essential. In Georgia, we rehabilitated the sullied image of law enforcement with modern uniforms, new cars, and glass police stations. This rebrand was not merely cosmetic but part of a broader effort to raise public awareness of the structural and policy changes in law enforcement. U.S. police departments could use constructive approaches to connect with their communities. Events and education, in partnership with community leaders, close the gap between police and the people they are expected to protect.

Last but not least, human resources management should be revamped. Supporters of the status quo maintain that police are generally good, but “a few bad apples”—like Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis officer who has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of George Floyd—cause undue damage to the reputation of the institution. I would caution those who agree with this statement to recall the rest of it: A few bad apples spoil the barrel. In Georgia, we had more than a few bad apples. To transform a rotten system, we had to remove all of them.

Watchdog groups and policy researchers could develop new standards for law enforcement personnel. Police must represent the diverse communities they serve. Law enforcement agencies should also consider steps to improve working conditions to mitigate risks for police and civilians alike. Long shifts and unpredictable hours can devastate officers’ mental and physical health. Departments may increase resources for employee wellness, including counseling. Procedures for advancement, punishment, and termination of staff should be reviewed to ensure that incentives for police are aligned with the public interest.

Distrust of police is symptomatic of a widespread sentiment: The system is built to protect the interests of elites. If we could solve this problem in Georgia, so can Americans. With that said, reform in any society is a continuous process because backsliding is always a danger. In the seven years since I left Georgia, the current ruling party has done nothing but erode the institutions that my government built. Approval of police dropped precipitously from 87 percent to 59 percent following the violent dispersal of peaceful protests in Tbilisi last summer.

Law enforcement institutions must evolve to meet the needs of the people they serve. This can only happen if civil society is vigilant in holding the authorities accountable. Americans and Georgians take this responsibility seriously, and that is one reason for optimism.

foreignpolicy

#EndSars: Amnesty International Shares A Sad And Tragic 1-Minute-Video Of Sars Brutalizing Nigerian Citizens

Contents

In a 1-minute-video shared by Amnesty International Nigeria on their official Twitter page tells a story about Nigerian citizens being brutalized in a merciless fashion by Sars

EndSarsNow has become a nationwide protest which is now gaining a stand in most of the Nigerian communities in view of Sars brutal harassment, maiming, killing etc of Nigerian citizens.

Watch the video below;

Everything about #SARS in one minute; pic.twitter.com/Ba07NzQ3iT

— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) October 9, 2020

Source: www.NaijaOnPoint.co

“Young People Can’t Be Driving Cars Of N7m”– Former SARS Boss Justifies Searching Of Phones

Vandefan Tersugh, a former commander of the dissolved special anti-robbery squad (SARS), says it raises suspicion for a young Nigerian to have a car worth N7 million.

Tersugh, who is a retired chief superintendent of police, said this during an African Independent Television (AIT) programme on Monday.

He said police officers, including former operatives of SARS cannot detect crime by “mere seeing you” on the road but they have to interrogate such persons to find out the source of their income.

He was speaking in the light of the recent nationwide protests against the anti-robbery squad accused of excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and, in some cases, extrajudicial killings.

Many Nigerians have accused SARS operatives of undue profiling and stereotyping leading to alleged harassment and extortion of young people.

When he featured on the programme monitored Tersugh said while working as a police officer, he would suspect a Nigerian aged between 20 and 30 who was driving an expensive car and would have to enquire about such a person’s background.

“The mandate of the policeman is to detect crime and you can detect crime also through most of these technologies coming on board,” he said.

“We were not trained during our manuals to talk about cybersecurity and cybercrime, but today cybercrime has become something very endemic in our society. And this can be done by asking questions and examining some of these things physically.”

Arguing that police officers do not need a search warrant in such occasions, he said the manner the person replies the security operatives will determine their next line of action.

“If I stop you on the road and I want to have a look at your phone, I want to see your Facebook, I don’t think I have committed any crime because I am only asking you a simple question,” he said.

“It is your answer that will lead me to go beyond where I have started. I can’t detect crime by mere seeing you but by asking you questions. I have seen you with a car, and now I have assessed your age, and I know in Nigeria how difficult it is for someone who is 20, 30 to start having a car worth N7 million.

Thenigerialawyer

Anger As Another 13- Year – Old Girl Is Gang-Raped In Lagos, Almost Paralysed

  • Police Nab One Suspect• Victim Critical In Hospital                                                                                               
The Hotel

Less than one week after the Inspector General Of Police, IGP Adamu Mohammad vowed to apprehend fleeing suspects that gang-raped and murdered 12-year-old Favour Ikechukwu at Ejigbo area of Lagos, another minor, a 13-year-old JSS III student, simply identified as Adepoju was allegedly subjected to a brutal and bloody rape, that left her partially paralysed in the hospital.

The said gang rape, which has elicited wide criticism and condemnation from residents, was said to have been perpetrated on Tuesday, October, 6th, 2020, at The Cool Tervan Hotel, Oremeji street, off Isuti road, Egan, Igando.

It was gathered that some angry residents had trooped to Igando Police Station to register their displeasure over what they tagged ‘a despicable wicked act to a minor.’

They were said to have praised the resilience of the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Taiwo Kasumu and his operatives, whose prompt response, they said, led to the early apprehending of the kingpin of the gang identified as Toyeeb Mustapha, known as ” Sir Small ” in the crime world.

While expressing worries on how the victim, said to be residing in the same street where the hotel is located, was lured by the gang into the hotel unnoticed by the management, the residents appealed to the Police Authorities, to further investigate the circumstances surrounding the crime and alleged untoward activities going on in the hotel.

Our undercover reporter who visited the hotel learnt that one of the fleeing gang member named Sukomi, alias “Ikamula or G33, a Motor Mechanic by profession and former student of Edu Grammar school, now residing at Ita Alhaji street, Ikotun, had earlier booked a room in the hotel on Monday, October 5th, 2020, to prepare the ground for their dastardly actions.

On Tuesday afternoon, while the victim’s mother had gone out in search of her family’s daily bread, “Sir Small ” said to be the gang leader and mastermind of the rape had crept into the victim’s house and lured her into the hotel, where they were said to have taken turns in raping her until she started bleeding profusely, coupled with the excruciating and agonising pain she revealed she felt on the lower region of her abdomen.

Sensing danger, the gang was said to have waited until night, as they quickly packaged and dumped their bleeding victim in front of her house.

According to a resident, who spoke to our correspondent on the grounds of anonymity,  for fear of reprisal attack, he said,     “When we assisted the Police to arrest the fleeing ”  Sir Small”, the gang leader,  he confirmed that he is a Generator mechanic and a  resident of Alfa  Iganna street,  Odo, Egan. He claimed to have graduated from Russell Grammar School in 2018, where he said he met the girl they raped. Though he said that they were not friends back then.”

Our Source also stated that the 20 years old suspect,  “Sir small “ who confessed to the crime, denied any ritual connotation or deployment of charms or “juju” in perpetrating the crime.  He claimed he reestablished contact with the victim, two years after he left school, through her phone contact that he collected from the victims’ schoolmate.

According to our source, the mastermind of the rape said he regretted his actions while the victim was protesting; however, he denied that the girl was a virgin before the rape.

At the Isuti Road Health Center, where the victim was initially rushed to, due to what a nurse described as excessive bleeding, Adepo was seen soaked in her own blood, while reeling in pains.

She was said to have told her now distraught mother, that she met ” Sir Small ” on Facebook before the incident.

A hospital source confirmed that despite the bleeding and pain the victim was undergoing, she was stitched three places on her virgina before she was transferred to Mirabel medical facility last Friday for further investigations and treatment.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State Police Commissioner, CP Hakeem Odumosu, had recently paid a visit on behalf of the IGP to late Favour’s family in Lagos, where he vowed to arrest the culprits, promising that the police would leave no stone unturned to fish out the culprits.

Favour was gang-raped to death by some unscrupulous elements on September 30, 2020, at Olanrewaju Street, Ejigbo area of Lagos State.

Odumosu, who delivered the condolence message to the parents of the deceased, on behalf of the IGP, assured the family that the Nigeria Police would do the needful to apprehend everyone involved in the barbaric act and get justice for Favour.

Odumosu, while promising the family of police constant support, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, DCP Yetunde Longe, who accompanied him, to deploy additional detectives from her office to go after the fleeing culprits and subject them to prosecution as soon as possible.

theleadnewsreport

World Trade Organization: The race for DG, a case for consensus, By Evelyn Dan Epelle

7th Director-General of the WTO takes historic precedence as ‘first woman to lead the Organization’ – ever

In narrowing the field of candidates campaigning for the office of Director General (DG), the World Trade Organization (WTO) has selected Nigerian-American, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and South-Korean, Yoo Myung-hee as the two candidates securing the ‘broadest and deepest support’ from the second round of consultations with the WTO General Council. Both women will advance to the third and final round for consideration by its members, with consultations holding from October 19-27.

“We are in the third phase of the process to select the next WTO Director-General. The three rounds of consultations for WTO members’ preference, is designed to select the candidate most likely to attract consensus,” the WTO has said in its external communications. With the two finalists for the number one office as women, the 7th Director-General of the WTO takes historic precedence as the ‘first woman to lead the Organization’ – ever.

The world is tuned to COVID-19 recovery as a focal point for the re-opening of global economies. Since a public health crisis induced the global economic pitfall, recovery strategies are built around healthcare and other human-centered approaches to policy design. In picking the next Director-General, the WTO has however emphasized that the ultimate objective of its ‘measured and clearly defined selection process’ is to secure a consensus decision by members on the next Director-General.

Tough Call – Portfolio Insights, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has pitched on her campaign trail that she is ‘the only candidate at the intersection of trade and public health’. While timely – due to the dire need to prioritize public healthcare policymaking parallel to other economic recovery efforts – the WTO is primarily concerned with Trade.

The main objectives of the WTO are explicitly stated; (1) to set and enforce rules for international trade, (2) to provide a forum for negotiating and monitoring further trade liberalization, (3) to resolve trade disputes, (4) to increase the transparency of decision-making processes, (5) to cooperate with other major international economic institutions involved in global economic management, and (6) to help developing countries benefit fully from the global trading system.

Guaranteeing equitable access to medical resources, directing and coordinating international health work and regulatory policies are functions that fly primarily at the World Health Organization (WHO). The bigger picture for the top job is contextualized around the internal fragility of the WTO Supreme Court, fueled by trade wars and a global pandemic. A resilient leader with a proven track record of reconciling differences and stage-managing large-scale commerce negotiations will stay afloat.

Already, America has left the group chat at the World Health Organization (WHO). US Vice President, Michael Pence, resounded on October 7 during the vice-presidential debate, that; “China is to blame for the coronavirus, and President Trump is not happy about it.” The US President, Donald Trump, has also been vocal about his feelings, openly referring to China’s entry into the WTO as “one of the greatest economic disasters of all time,” at the Republican Party convention a few weeks ago. Will the United States also hit ‘eject’ on the WTO?

Sino-American Trade Wars – WTO Top Office Calls for Arbitration 

Going by interests, America will desire a leader that can boldly second its mandate to hold China accountable for breaching trading rules or even confront China on the subject of the novel coronavirus – since COVID-19 originated in China and rapidly spread around the world, plunging many nations into catastrophic medical, social and economic circumstances. It is ideal for China to show support for a leader that can fine-tune its interests in being the chief orchestra of trade. Already, China in Africa is a blossoming concept. This is opposite to America’s dwindling interest in funding the developing continent due to its self-focused approach to governance under President Trump. Within the WTO, where America is now contemplating its presence, China is only one step away from headlining as the majority donor.

The disposition of the WTO concerning the resolution of trade disputes is outlined thus; ‘Members are committed not to take unilateral action against other members. Instead, they are expected to seek recourse through the WTO’s dispute-settlement system and to abide by its rules and findings. The procedures for dispute resolution under the GATT have been automated and greatly streamlined, and the timetable has been tightened.’ (WTO, via Britannica).

WTO reforms and the remarrying of America and China for trade relations will require a leader with extensive experience in Sino-American conventions, and conflict resolution through mediation. South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee checks this box. In addition to frontlining in Sino-American discourse, Yoo Myung-hee is also a renowned arbitrator. Her biography to the WTO recommends her negotiation skill, citing that; ‘she has flourished in her role as a catalyst who brings together diverse views of the parties involved to derive win-win solutions.’

Country Support and Global Citizenship

Although there is no citizenship requirement for the job, last year, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala pledged allegiance to the United States constitution, gaining US citizenship in duality to being a Nigerian patriot. In addition to her job function as a two-time Minister of Finance in Nigeria, she also spent 25 years at the World Bank as a development economist, rising to the number two position of Managing Director, Operations. Well-wishers from both countries have since expressed profound support for her WTO campaign, with the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) including its 79 member countries, endorsing her candidature.

South-Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee on the other hand is synonymous with non-political ideologies on multilateralism, and her global perspective on trade. She often heralds her experience witnessing Korea grow from an impoverished nation to one of the largest trade nations in the world. When asked how she views the subject of her nationality as supportive or opposing on the campaign trail, Yoo Myung-hee tells Bloomberg; “Rather than focusing on my nationality as Korean, I would like to highlight the advantages, insights, and beliefs that come from my experience in Korea.”

Gender Equality, Inclusion, and Public Sentiment

The WTO is now weeks away from having a female Director-General. Women all over the world are already tuned to the gains of the development, expressing collective positive sentiment about inclusion, alongside groans that the men are stepping down at a time that paves way for the women to inherit broken and havoc-wreaked systems to ultimately ‘fix and refurbish’.

The leading women, however, have shown inherent tenacity by advancing through two tight rounds of consultations, into the third and final round of the selection process.

While Yoo Myung-hee pledges to make the WTO more ‘relevant, resilient and responsive’ on the campaign trail, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala promises to bring ‘a fresh pair of eyes and ears’ to the WTO.

With the two aptly qualified women weeks away from making history, the buck is now on the WTO to fill the seat in line with its inherent vision/mission come November 7.

Published by Kaftan Post on Monday, October 12, 2020.

Economy loses N900bn credit, private sector stagnates at N30trn

Credit to the economy fell by N900 billion or 2.27 percent in August driven by slump in credit to the government during the month. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed this in its Depository Corporation Survey report for August.

According to the CBN, credit to the domestic economy (Net Domestic Credit, NDC) fell by 2.27 percent to N38.67 trillion in August from N39.57 trillion in July.

This was due to N730 billion or 10.21 percent decline in credit to the government, which fell to N8.55 trillion in August from N9.52 trillion in July.

The decline in credit to the government was driven by a sharp fall in government borrowing through treasury bills (TBs), as total TBs held by investors dropped by N510 billion or 14.7 percent to N2.97 trillion in August from N3.48 trillion in July.

The report also shows that credit to the private sector was relatively stagnant at N30.13 trillion at the end of August, slightly higher by 0.24 percent when compared with the N30.06 trillion in July.

According to the CBN survey, Broad Money Supply (M3 money) rose by 1.62 percent month-on-month (m-o-m) to N37.19 trillion in August 2020.

This resulted from a 13.38 percent increase in Net Foreign Assets (NFA) to N8.66 trillion; however Net Domestic Asset (NDA) decreased m-o-m by 2.46 percent to N42.17 trillion.

The survey showed that the decline  in NDA was chiefly driven by a 2.27 percent  m-o-m moderation in Net Domestic Credit (NDC) to N38.67 trillion, accompanied by a 4.51 percent  m-o-m decline in other assets net to N3.48 trillion in August 2020.

Further breakdown of the NDC showed a 10.21 percent  m-o-m decline in Credit to the Government to N8.55 trillion; however, Credit to the Private sector rose marginally by 0.24 percent  to N30.13 trillion.

On the liabilities side, the 1.62 percent  m-o-m increase in M3 Money was driven by the 3.33 percent  m-o-m increase in M2 Money to N34.22 trillion, but was partly offset by a 14.70 percent  fall in treasury bills held by money holding sector to N2.97 trillion.

The increase in M2 was propelled by a 4.62 percent  rise in Narrow Money (M1) to N13.14 trillion (of which Demand Deposits increased by 6.02 percent  to N11.64 trillion, however currency outside banks fell by 2.66 percent  to N1.97 trillion), and a 2.54 percent  increase in Quasi Money (near maturing short term financial instruments) to N21.08 trillion.

Reserve Money (Base Money) further rose m-o-m by 2.02 percent  to N13.69 trillion as Bank reserves increased m-o-m by 2.68 percent  to N11.32 trillion, however currency in circulation moderated by 1.04 percent  to N2.37 trillion.

(Source: Vanguard)

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