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Edo Poll: EDOCSO Urges Security Agencies On Neutrality As Police Pledge Readiness For Credible Election

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The Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), yesterday, urged the security agencies deployed for the conduct of the September 21 governorship election in the state to maintain a high sense of neutrality before, during and after the election.

The group made the call during a rally to the Edo State Police Command headquarters and the Department of State Services (DSS) office in Benin respectively.

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Addressing the Commissioner of Police, CP Nemi Edwin-Iwo at the state command on what they tagged “Security agencies stay neutral in this Edo guber election #eyesontheball”, the Coordinator-General of the group, Leftist Omobude Agho, said that the governorship election is very important to the people of the state, stressing that the police and its sister agencies must do all in their powers to restrain themselves from being used by one political party to intimidate others.

READ ALSO: EDOCSO Says No To Cult Killings, Organises Enlightenment Rally In Benin

Leftist Agho said the undue harassment and intimidation of other political opponents by security agencies under the influence of one political party would discourage potential voters from coming out to exercise their franchise on election day.

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He said the state has been very peaceful not until the ugly incident that happened at the Benin airport where a police officer was shot dead.

Agho added that the people of the state would want to count votes and not the number of deaths in the election and that the police can do that by playing by the rules of the game.

On the part of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Nemi Edwin-Iwo, he said the police under his watch would always remain neutral as they don’t belong to any political parties.

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READ ALSO: You Owe Edo People Explanation On State Of Central Hospital, EDOCSO Tackles Obaseki

I want to assure you and reassure you that we are neutral. Nigeria Police and other security agencies, we are neutral. And we are going to make sure that this election is conducted in a very peaceful environment”, Edwin-Iwo said.

He said he has conducted elections in other states and that there were no issues raised, noting that he is willing to replicate same in the state.

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“We have conducted elections in so many states.

“I have conducted in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa, the records are there. We are very neutral and we came out without blemish.

READ ALSO: Edo Poll: Probe Allegations Of Police Bias, Group Urges Abubakar-led Committee

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“Whatever they are saying is their own because we have a focus to make sure that this election is properly conducted.

“Yes, police and other security agencies, they have their shortcomings but I am telling you that before the election, everything is going to be streamlined.

“So, I am assuring you again that we are neutral and I am going to ask you to support me to make sure everything goes on successfully”, Edwin-Iwo said.

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The Commissioner of Police further appealed to the civil society group to help sensitize the members of the public to come out in their large numbers to cast their votes for their preferred candidate.

READ ALSO: EDOCSO Demands Stoppage To ‘Indiscriminate Towing Of Vehicles’ In Areas With No Warning Sign

He said the police can only arrest those who are involved in crimes.

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“Please help me tell the people of the state to come out and vote. Tell them to do the right thing and if you do the right thing, nobody is going to arrest you. If you watch well, most of you who are members of the civil society activists, nobody is arrested but that doesn’t mean if you commit crime, we will not arrest you.

“We have not arrested you but if you commit a crime we will arrest you and it is not because you are in a party or whatever it is.

“We don’t know political parties and what we know is that, do the right thing, obey the law”, Edwin-Iwo said.

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Sanwo-Olu makes U-turn, Unblocks Lawyer Who Sued Him Over Blocking On X

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unblocked human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, on X after a meeting with him at Lagos House, Marina, on Friday.

The lawyer, who had accused the governor of rights violations, announced the development in a post on his X account on Saturday.

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According to him, Sanwo-Olu personally invited him for a brief meeting to address his complaints.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unblocked me on X (Twitter). I met briefly with him yesterday at Lagos House Marina, on his invitation, to amicably resolve my complaint of human rights violations. We will continue to hold authorities accountable, regardless. Aluta continua!” Ogun wrote.

READ ALSO:Lawyer Sues Sanwo-Olu For Blocking Him On X

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Tribune Online reports that Ogun had earlier filed a suit against Sanwo-Olu at a Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing him of violating his fundamental rights by blocking him on his verified X account.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1739/25, which he shared on Facebook, the lawyer claimed the governor blocked him over his 2021 “constructive criticisms” and “demand for accountability” on the October 2020 #EndSARS killings.

In 2021, I noticed that the Governor blocked me on his official X handle @jidesanwoolu owing to my constructive criticisms of his policies and demand for accountability in respect of the October 2020 #EndSARS Massacre.”

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READ ALSO:‘Court Of Corruption’ — Obasanjo Knocks INEC Chairman, Judiciary In New Book

Ogun said the action has prevented him from accessing vital government updates and information.

“Blocking me on X has prevented me from accessing public updates and receiving information about policies and governance in Lagos, which constitutes a violation of my right to receive information without interference,” he said.

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In his originating summons, he asked the court to declare the move unconstitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory.

 

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Tragedy Deepens As Prime Suspect in Taraba Student’s Death Found Dead

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The investigation into the death of Comfort Jimtop, a 100-level Mass Communication student at Taraba State University, has taken a dramatic turn following the discovery of the lifeless body of Emmanuel Kefas, the prime suspect in the case.

Kefas’s body was discovered on Friday in the Tudiri community, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, under unclear circumstances, intensifying public concern and adding a tragic dimension to a case that has already gripped the university community and residents across Taraba State.

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Confirming the development on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, James Lashen, said the police received a report from the village head of Tudiri about the discovery.

READ ALSO:Army Kills Notorious Bandit, Babangida, In Kogi

A lifeless body was found in Tudiri, and a Tecno Android phone was recovered beside it,” Lashen stated.

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Upon charging the phone, investigators found a photograph showing the deceased with the late Comfort Jimtop, suggesting they were in a romantic relationship.”

Lashen added that the body has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo for autopsy. At the same time, efforts are ongoing to officially identify the remains through the suspect’s family.

READ ALSO:Four Feared Killed As Gunmen Attack Burial Ceremony In Anambra

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Police have yet to determine whether Kefas’s death was the result of suicide, homicide, or an accident. Investigations into both deaths are continuing.

Comfort Jimtop’s mysterious death had earlier sparked outrage on campus and across the state, with students and rights groups demanding justice. Kefas was named a prime suspect in the case, which remains open.

This latest development has left many unanswered questions and deepened the grief surrounding the case.

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Students, residents, and civil society groups are closely monitoring the situation, calling on authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and bring clarity to the tragic chain of events.

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Ossiomo, Chinese Impasse: This Is Our Story — Management

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The management of Ossiomo Power Plant has cleared the air on the dispute between its Chinese partners and the circumstances surrounding the shutting down of the power plant early this month.

Representative of Ossiomo management, Engineer Festus Evbuomwan, during an interactive session with customers on the impasse between the two partners, said contrary to the rumour making the rounds, the management of Ossiomo Power Plant had paid over ₦2bn to its Chinese partner — Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) — since the power plant started operation.

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Recall that representative of CCETC who identified himself as Mr. ‘W’ had, during a telephone phone interview two weeks ago, claimed that “instruction to shutdown was because we lost lots of money and did not get any return on investment,” adding that “all the $20m investment was done by us including the distribution lines.”

But Evbuomwan during the interactive session, said the management was not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese partner claimed, just as he disclosed that “when they generate power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO:Edo Govt Denies Shares As Ownership Tussle Rocks Ossiomo Power

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He disclosed that after shutting down the power plant, the Chinese partners came up with a request of ₦185m to be paid to two Chinese not known to the management, stressing that this was declined.

According to him, the Chinese partner, having seen how lucrative the business is, “went to some quarters and raised some issues probably thinking they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.”

The Chinese partners also claimed that they borrowed $20m from their native land to invest, we are not aware of such investment, and we do not know where the money was invested up till now.

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“They have been also saying they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, The Chinese partners have received over ₦2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO: Five Years After, Edo Govt Reconnects To BEDC As Ossiomo Shut Down

Engr. Evbuomwan, while apologising to customers for the power outage caused by the dispute between the two partners, said Ossiomo had started power generation though not in full capacity, assuring that power generation would be fully restored soon.

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“We have purchased turbines, and one have started working. They are working on the second one, so, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government may not be reached immediately. This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva transformer along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible, so that our customers there will get power.”

He said the Edo State government does not have a stake in the company, just as he appealed to the “government to let us supply power to customers in through their Lines. I want to emphasise that Ossiomo is not completely shut down.”

He further urged the “government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors.”

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