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Katampe residents condemn Bwari Council’s alleged Illegal raids over Radio, TV fees’ enforcement
The Katampe Extension Residents Association (KERA), has condemned alleged Illegal raids by the Bwari Area Council agents over the enforcement of payment of Radio and Television licence fees,
Mr Mohammed Gimba, President of KERA,made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Gimba said that in recent days, “thugs and armed personnel” invaded the District, forcibly arresting gatekeepers and other domestic staffers who were carrying out their lawful duties within private residential properties.
He explained that they were rounded up without cause, taken away in trucks, and the residences they were guarding were left unsecured, with gates left wide open.
Gimba said, “This alarming conduct had created widespread fear and threatens the peace and safety of our neighbourhood.
“These actions, carried out under the guise of enforcing payment of radio and television licence fees, constitute alleged brazen acts of extortion and a serious violation of the fundamental human rights of our residents.
“What we are witnessing is a clear case of impunity, where bystanders, private security men, and house helps are arrested instead of homeowners, in total disregard of Nigerian law.”
He stressed that under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Section 35) and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, no person may be arrested or detained without reasonable suspicion of committing a crime.
“The law does not permit substitutional arrest or detention of individuals simply because they are employees or associates of a person of interest.
“The conduct of these officials and accompanying policemen is therefore illegal, unconstitutional, and unacceptable,”he said.
According to Gimba, it is important to emphasise that the issue of radio and television license fees is a civil matter, not a criminal one.
He added that moreover, Katampe Extension was under the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) not Bwari Area Council.
He stated that AMAC had already suspended the imposition and collection of Radio and TV taxes on residential properties.
“It is therefore shocking that Bwari Area Council is aggressively pursuing residents of a district outside its jurisdiction, and doing so in a manner that violates the law,”he decried.
Gimba said that even more troubling was the fact that some of the payments being demanded were reportedly being directed into private company accounts, which raised serious concerns about the integrity and legality of the entire operation.
He said that the Katampe Extension residents had seen no visible development projects by the Bwari Area Council in the district.
He said that consequently, the coercive revenue drive framed as enforcement of Radio and TV licence fees appeared to be nothing more than an attempt to extort law-abiding citizens.
He said that in the light of the disturbing developments, KERA called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Judicial Service Commission to urgently intervene and call the Bwari Area Council to order.
This, he said,was before the situation escalated into a total breakdown of law and order in our community.
Gimba added, “We urge Bwari Area Council to immediately cease these unlawful actions and engage in constructive, transparent dialogue with the residents of Katampe Extension.
“If there is any legitimate basis for their demands, it should be communicated clearly and handled lawfully, not through intimidation or illegal arrests.”
He said that the residents of Katampe Exension were ready to engage, vowing, “but they would not silently endure harassment, extortion, or violations of their constitutional rights.”
Meanwhile,the lawyer representing the Bwari Area council,Sunday Anierobi, told the association that he was acting on Court orders.
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