By Gift Chapi Odekina
The House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its ad-hoc committee to investigate the alleged disappearance of about 178,459 different arms and ammunition of the Nigeria Police Force in 2019.
The House also called on the Inspector General of Police to take urgent actions to apprehend those culpable for the depletion of the armoury of the Nigeria Police Force.
The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the deputy minority leader Rep. Toby Okechukwu during plenary in Abuja.
Recall that the 2019 report of the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation recently reported stated that the audit of Arms Movement Register, Monthly Returns of Arms and Ammunition and Ammunition Register at the Armoury Section reveals that a total number of lost firearms as at December 2018 stood at 178,459 pieces.
Moving the motion, Okechukwu noted that out of the 88,078 were AK-47 rifles, 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols across different police formations, which could not be accounted for as at January 2020.
“Aware of the findings in the report that the police high command failed to keep record of unserviceable and expired firearms and ammunition; owing to non-compliance to the internal control system of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Also Aware that records of the total number of unserviceable firearms were not produced for examinations and there were no returns from Adamawa State Command, Police Mobile Force (PMF) 46, 56, 64 and 68 for the period under review.
“Alarmed that dully completed Treasury Form 146 (loss of stores) were not presented. Records obtained from force armament at Force Headquarters showed 21 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron, Abuja did not report a single case of missing firearm, whereas schedule of missing arms obtained from the same PMF showed a total of 46 missing arms between year 2000 and February 2019.
“Worried that the value of the lost firearms could not be ascertained because no document relating to their cost of acquisition was presented for examination.
“Mindful of the worsening state of security, kidnapping and banditry in the country and concerned that the missing arms could have found their ways into the wrong hands. Also Mindful that Nigeria did not undertake any war in recent times.
The House therefore mandated the Committees to establish the veracity of the allegations and conduct due diligence of the control processes of the armoury of the Nigeria Police Force; and report back to the House within four (4) weeks.
Counsel Tinubu to step down for Osinbajo, Ajulo urges fmr. President Babangida
An Abuja based lawyer and Coordinator, Progressive Lawyers For Osinbajo (PYO, Dr. Kayode Ajulo has called on the former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida to advise the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to shelve his presidential ambition for Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,.
Ajulo, former National Secretary of Labour Party gave this advice while reacting to news of Tinubu’s visit to Babangida in Minna yesterday. He said the ex-military president who had encountered such scenario is in the best position to advise the former Lagos State Governor.
“It should be recalled that President Babangida in 2007 after signifying his interest to run for the office of the President withdrew the bid for President Umaru Yar’adua on the ground that Yar’adua was his younger brother.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the political leader of Prof. Osinbajo. In fact, he was a major influence on how the VP got his present position and I am sure he’s proud of his numerous achievements. Asiwaju will do well to throw his weight behind the VP to become the next President”. Ajulo said.
