Amotekun personnel: South-West govs to write IG for gun licence

There were indications on Sunday that the South-West state executive councils would on Wednesday this week discuss the bills on Amotekun corps.

It was gathered that a security network agency would be established in each state to oversee the Amotekun corps.

The Ondo State Attorney General, Kola Olawoye, said after the passage of the bill, each state would apply to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, for a gun licence for the Amotekun corps

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The South-West governors, had at a summit organised by the Development Agenda for Western Agenda on January 9 agreed to set up Operation Amotekun to address killings and kidnapping in the zone.

The Federal Government initially said the security outfit was illegal, but during a meeting in Abuja attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; the South-West governors and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, both the FG and the governors agreed that the South-West states should give a legal backing to the security outfit.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Wale Fapohunda, in an interview with newsmen confirmed that the bill for a law establishing Amotekun corps provided for the establishment of a security network agency to oversee the operations of the corps.

Fapohunda, who said the Amotekun bill for Ekiti State was ready, stated that the state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, had directed that it should be presented to the state executive council on Wednesday.

He said, “We have drafted a bill that is concise and comprises only the most necessary provisions. Community policing is an important component of the proposed Ekiti State Amotekun Law.

“The key features of the Ekiti State Amotekun Law include the establishment of the Ekiti State Security Network Agency that will oversee the operations of the Ekiti State Amotekun Corps

He said the bill also provided for “the establishment of an independent Amotekun Corps Complaints Board to expeditiously inquire into and report any matter regarding the conduct of Amotekun corps, specifically as it relates to abuse of power including corruption and human rights violation.

Explaining functions of the Ekiti State Security Network Agency, Fapohunda said besides overseeing Amotekun corps, it would “collaborate with and assist the police and other security agencies in maintaining law and order.”

Olawoye also said each state would apply to the Inspector General of Police for a gun licence for the Amotekun corps

Recall that on January 13 it was reported that the police warned Amotekun operatives against carrying firearms.

They said Oodua Peoples Congress members and hunters working as Amotekun operatives could only carry Dane guns, which do not use cartridges.

But the Oyo State Attorney General, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo, who briefed journalists after the AGs’ meeting in Ibadan on Friday, said, “Carrying of arms is legalised by the law and Amotekun outfit will comply with all the laws of the land

Olawoye, in the interview with our correspondents said, “A section of the bill stipulates that the Amotekun corps will be carrying arms licensed by the Inspector General of Police, in line with the Police Act . Each state will apply for the licence. After the law has been made, we will apply to the IG for the licence for the corps. Each state will have a corps commander, who will be in charge of administration, operational guidelines and other things.

“The agency will have a governing board. The commander will be a member of the board . The commander must be a person of proven integrity, who will be a retired military or police officer of 10 years cognate experience. This is how it will be in other five states. The corps commanders of the states will be meeting if the need be. I am sure the individual state should be able to pass the law before the end of the month

Also, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Akingbolahan Adeniran, said the Amotekun bill would be submitted this week to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun.

Adeniran said this on Sunday while responding to the questions from journalists, adding that, his office was planning to do this in line with the agreement at the meeting of AGs of the South-West states in Ibadan

He said “The resolution at the meeting of the body of attorneys general of the South-West is to submit the bill to our respective governors and the executive councils this week.

We also aim to get it submitted, other things being equal to the House of Assembly in our respective states before the end of the week.”

The Osun State Government on Sunday said the bill for Amotekun might be transmitted to the House of Assembly this week

Speaking to one of our correspondents, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, said after the meeting of the South-West attorneys general last week, the draft was ready for presentation to the state executive council

“The state executive council will be presented the draft at their meeting this week. They will look at it, before the bill will be presented to the lawmakers.

“Hopefully, after the state executive council meeting, the bill will be ready for presentation to the lawmakers. We are hopeful that the lawmakers will have the bill this week,” Omipidan said