A former governor of Ogun State,
Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has denied illegally importing massive cache of AK47
assault rifles and ammunition into the country and handing them over to the
police towards the end of his administration.
Reports had emerged Monday night
in some quarters that the ex-governor imported, without appropriate permits,
1,000 AK47 assault guns and two million rounds of ammunition.
Amosun reacted to the report via
a statement issued yesterday night by his media aide, Mr. Rotimi Durojaiye.
Though the former governor
admitted handing over some armoured vehicles and light weapons to the Ogun
State Police Command at the twilight of his government, he vehemently denied
that guns were involved in the handing over exercise.
Amosun further clarified that he
imported the security hardware with the approval of the Presidency, under
Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.
The statement reads in part, “It
is important to stress that this was not the first time that Senator Amosun,
whilst in office as governor and former chief security officer of Ogun State
would be handing over security assets to the police.
“The particular exercise of 28
May, 2019 was done openly in the full glare of the public and the media to
ensure accountability, guarantee transparency and judicious use of the assets.
“In May 2011 when Senator Amosun
assumed office, the biggest challenge that confronted Ogun State was
insecurity. Political assassinations, unnatural and unexplained deaths were
prevalent.
“In Ogun East for instance, which
comprised of 9 of the 20 LGAs at the time, the entire business and financial
institutions architecture had become comatose as no bank or such institutions
could open for business in the entire senatorial district.
“Cultism, kidnapping for ransom,
violent crime and tertiary institutions related criminality stank to high
heavens. Ogun West was totally ravaged by cross border banditry, unbridled
smuggling and economic sabotage.
“Ogun Central, though relatively
calmer, had its fair share of the very low security index that our state had
sunk at the time. No resident, in good conscience, could sleep at night with
two eyes closed.
“In the World Bank Ease of Doing
Business, 2010, Ogun State was ranked as Number 35 out of 36 as industries and
corporations fled the state in droves.
“Senator Ibikunle Amosun took the
firm view that nothing would thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity. He,
therefore, decided that early to confront the myriad security challenges
headlong and thereby open up Ogun State to private investment under a secured
environment.
“The SIA administration convened
a security parley amongst all stakeholders. The parley gave rise to the Ogun
State Security Trust Fund (STF) under the leadership of a former Nigerian
national security adviser. The deliberations and recommendations of the STF and
the far-reaching initiatives of government have delivered consistent peace of
mind, economic prosperity and social progress for all within the borders of
Ogun State and even beyond since 2012.
“We note with immense pride that
the same Ogun State, generally regarded as a back-water state in terms of
security rallied round strongly to emerge as one of the most peaceful and the
best place to work and live in Nigeria.
“The SIA administration sought
help from the then President Goodluck Jonathan-led federal government. First,
we sought and got approval to set up “OP MESA” for Ogun State. We followed this
up with the specialized QRS unit. We committed substantial funds into
procurement of hard and soft ware, and, myriad security assets to decisively combat
our security challenges.
“We got all necessary approvals
from the Office of the National Security Adviser to procure the 13 units of
Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), the 1000 units of AK 47 rifles, 2 million
rounds of ammunition,1000 units of bullet proof vests and 500 bullet proof
helmets and other security communication gadgets.
“Ogun State not only got approval
to import these essential assets, the federal administration under President
Goodluck Jonathan, gave all requisite approvals to assist the state. The
federal government through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA)
issued the State the End User Certificate Serial Number 000001123 dated 5th of
March, 2012. The Federal Ministry of Finance also granted Import Duty Exemption
Certificate through a letter from the Honourable Minister of Finance and
Coordinating Minister of the Economy with Reference Number
BO/R.10260/S.4/T.4/22 dated 10th April, 2012.
“Indeed, the supplier was an
accredited agent of the Nigeria Police Force nominated for the job by the
force, who also monitored and supervised the transaction. The security
materials were cleared through the Murtala Muhammed Airport and confirmed
through Nigeria Customs Memo NCS/MMAC/012/S.1. The materials were publicly
handed over to the Inspector General of Police MD Abubakar on 22nd April, 2012
wherein he acknowledged that: ‘I have served in all six geographical zones of
this country. I have never seen the kind of equipment you are donating to
security agents today. This is the first of such maximum donation I have ever
seen since I have been serving as a police officer.’
“Suffice to say categorically
that the AK47 rifles were supplied directly to the Nigeria Police, Ogun State
Command. The rest of the merchandise were securely kept in the approved
designated armoury within the Government House precincts under police
surveillance as it obtains in most Government Lodges, to guarantee exclusive
use of the materials in Ogun State. These are not matters for the public.
“The suggestion that the security
assets were quickly handed over to the police in order that the new
administration will not know about it is laughable because the current Governor
of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR was the main supplier of some of the
assets in question, notably, the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).
“As a governor who understood and
took the responsibilities of his office seriously, Senator Amosun was mindful
to account for and properly hand over the remainder of the security items to
the police and the new administration. On 28 May, 2019, the last of the APCs,
and all other security assets under the custody of Ogun State Government were
passed over to the police in full glare of the media and general public. We
believed that was the surest way to prevent these assets getting into the wrong
hands.”
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