Some close associates of the deputy
Chairman of the Lagos State taskforce on environmental Sanitation and Special
offences SP Taiwo Adeoluwa has described as rather unfortunate the way and
manner the officer has been treated and accused of derogation of duties by the
Lagos State government over an incident that occurred last Friday.
The friends who spoke to CKN News
under condition of anonymity described the hasty nature of the trial and
condemnation of the officer by the State government without given him the
opportunity to fully defend himself as rather unfortunate.
According to one of them, the
reaction of the government was “high politics borne out of pettiness and
unnecessary rivalry among the officers of the taskforce. That officer is
someone I know very well. He has been in that place for 7 years and has seen a
lot. He is not one, that would willingly soil his name. He was just a victim of
circumstances that some elements because of their closeness to the powers that
be at Alausa that wanted the young man out by all means. How I wish an
independent inquiry and or proper investigation is done. His Excellency whom I
know is a man of full integrity was not properly briefed of the true position
of things. In the fullness of time the whole issue would unravel. I am
confident.”
The Lagos State government had earlier on issued this press
statement on the issue
Governor Ambode
has sent a formal request to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai
Owoseni, asking for the redeployment of some police officers attached to the
Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences Unit. The request
came in the wake of last Friday’s raids in different parts of Lagos by officers
of the taskforce, leading to a rough treatment and arrests of innocent citizens.
In a statement
issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve
Ayorinde, the Governor has sought an immediate redeployment of several of the
taskforce officers from the unit and possibly from the state over what the
Governor called “unacceptable conduct.”
The release
stated that the request became necessary in order to checkmate the reoccurrence
of last weekend’s unauthorized raid and indiscriminate arrest of citizens who
were out to have fun on Friday night.
According to Ayorinde,
preliminary investigation showed that the unauthorized raid was carried out
with the knowledge of the second in command to the Chairman of the Taskforce,
SP Taiwo Adeoluwa without the approval of the Chairman, SP. Saheed Olayinka
Egbeyemi.
“The conduct of
the affected officers is not in tandem with the vision of Lagos State
Government and is therefore condemnable. Their conduct is also unbecoming of
officers who are expected to protect the citizenry and ensure that citizens and
visitors find every part of the State safe and conducive enough not only on
Friday nights but every day.”
The
commissioner added that Governor Ambode’s massive investments in security and
Light Up Lagos Project was meant to create a 24-7 economy that encourages
businesses to thrive. He said the government would not fold its arms and watch
any overzealous officer derail the vision that has earned the government
applause.
While
expressing the State Government’s heartfelt apology to the affected person,
Ayorinde stated that government would not condone any act(s) of
high-handedness, extortion and disregard for human rights on the side of any of
its law enforcement agencies and any public official as the State has sworn to
protect and guarantee the rights of its citizens.
He therefore
reiterated the State Government’s commitment towards providing a safe, secure
and friendly environment where every law-abiding citizen can go about his or
her businesses and activities without fear of being molested, harassed or
intimidated by anyone.
SIGNED
STEVE AYORINDE
STEVE AYORINDE
COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION AND STRATEGY LAGOS STATE
SEPTEMBER 6, 2016
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