Concern over delay of Amotekun Corps’ operation in Ogun

More than two months after the Ogun State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps Bill was passed into law by the House of Assembly, there are concerns over delay in the operation of the security outfit in the state. EkoTrust reports that the legal framework, otherwise known as Amotekun Bill, had scaled the third reading […]

More than two months after the Ogun State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps Bill was passed into law by the House of Assembly, there are concerns over delay in the operation of the security outfit in the state.

EkoTrust reports that the legal framework, otherwise known as Amotekun Bill, had scaled the third reading and final passage in the Assembly on March 3.

The bill was passed barely 19 days after Gov Abiodun had sent it to the Assembly as part of his administration’s drive to stem crimes in the state.

The Majority Leader, Yusuf Sherif, moved the motion for the third reading of the bill and was seconded by Sola Adams, after which the Clerk, Deji Adeyemo, read the bill for the third time.

The Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, immediately directed the Clerk to prepare a clean copy of the bill for Gov Abiodun’s assent.

However, two months after, some stakeholders have been skeptical on whether or not the bill had been signed into law.

The Yoruba World Congress (YWC), a socio-cultural group, had in a statement expressed worry over the delay in the operation of the Amotekun outfit.

The leader of the group in the state, Chief Jimoh Taofeek, appealed, in a statement made available to Eko Trust yesterday, to the governor not to only assent to the bill, but to also appoint and inaugurate the Board members of the security outfit without delay.

This, he noted, would bring about synergy between the security outfit and other existing agencies in the state in the fight against crime.

However, the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Gbolahan Adeniran, told Eko Trust yesterday that Gov Abiodun had signed the bill into law, contrary to the speculations in some quarters.

Adeniran, who was silent on why the development was not made public, said the bill was signed into law on March 24, 2020. “It’s already a law in Ogun State,” he asserted, adding that its implementation was an ongoing process.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communications, Remmy Hazzan, admitted delay in the implementation, but hinted it would soon swing into full operation.

Hazzan disclosed that the Commander of the Amotekun Corps would be appointed before Friday this week.

“We are aware of the development in Osun (and other states). We don’t want any further delay about the mobilisation of the Amotekun corps and starting of operation. The coming in of the commander will kick-start the entire arrangement. So, we are good to go,” Hazzan said.