The Edo State Government has disagreed with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, who announced the suspension of the state-owned security agency known as the “Edo State Security Network (ESSN)”.
Recalls that on Wednesday, at the Independent National Electoral Commission’s arranged stakeholders’ meeting ahead of the governorship election scheduled for September 21, 2024 in Benin City, the Inspector General of Police declared the security outfit’s indefinite suspension.
Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser on Media Project to Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, responded to the announcement by stating that the IGP lacks constitutional authority to suspend the Edo Security Corps, which the Edo State House of Assembly established. According to him, the IGP had an Independent
The National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared during its stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday, September 11, that the organization had been suspended ahead of Edo State’s governorship election on September 21.
He said:
“The Edo State government insists that the ESC is a body set up by law passed by the Edo State House of Assembly.
“This is tantamount to the IGP disbanding the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Operation Amotekun, ahead of the governorship election in Ondo State billed for next month “Government notes that it is unconstitutional for the IGP to make such a declaration since Sec 11 (1), Sec 11 (2) empowers the State House of Assembly to set up structures for public safety and security of the state.”
He did, however, add that, in the interest of maintaining peace, the State Governor has asked all ESC officials to take leave from September 11 to September 23, 2024, following the election.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
