The Edo State House of Assembly has said that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, lacks the constitutional authority to suspend the Edo State Security Corps from carrying out its statutory responsibility and duty of protecting lives and property of citizens of the state.
The Majority Leader of the house and member representing Ovia North East constituency 1 (PDP), Hon. Charity Aiguobarueghian, made the assertion in a press conference in Benin City while responding to a directive of the IGP suspending the operations of the state security network.
IGP Egbetokun had, during an interactive session with the political parties ahead of the forthcoming September 21 governorship election, announced the suspension of the operations of the state security network without any valid reason given.
The Majority Leader noted that the security network was established in line with provisions of section 14 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
He stated that it was not within the right of the IGP to suspend the operation of the security network, adding that only an order of the court can challenge the law establishing the security network.
“The Edo State House of Assembly pursuant to its function and powers as enshrined in section 4 of the Constitution as amended made a law for the good governance and order of Edo State in line with the Federal principle to the effect that the Federal Government superintends over every parts of the federation of which Edo is a part and has powers to legislate on maintenance of peace and order in the state,” Hon. Aiguobarueghian said.
“Edo State is among the 23 of 36 states with internal community police network established to provide security and order. These functions and powers are clearly provided for by the Constitution and cannot be challenged by anybody except through the courts,” he noted.
Hon. Aiguobarueghian disclosed that the Edo Security Corps, in its operations after it was signed into law and assented by the Governor on June 14, 2024, has successfully bridged the gaps created by the security challenges earlier experienced in the state as citizens are able to sleep with their two eyes closed.
He, however, maintained that members of the network are not going to participate in the election, adding that as law-abiding citizens, they are going to the field to vote like every other voters in the state.
