By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
A High Court sitting in the FCT has declared Chief Emmanuel Okereke as the authentic Director General (DG) of the National Task Force to Combat Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons and Pipelines Vandalism in Nigeria (NATFORCE).
Okereke had dragged Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) to an Abuja High Court, saying that his sack was illegal and claiming damages worth N200 million.
Justice Haliru Yusuf of High Court 32, who confirmed Okereke’s leadership of the taskforce, yesterday in Abuja, directed purported former board of trustee chairman and secretary to publicly apologise in seven national newspapers as well as pay N5 million as damages to Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, Okereke said NATFORCE was in top gear and was committed to promoting the image of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration as well as creating more jobs for Nigerian youths.
He urged security agencies to co-operate with members of the taskforce as they only played complimentary roles, just as he warned the public not fall into the hands of fraudsters parading as agents of NATFORCE.
The DG said the task force was not selling force for recruitment and does not sell its uniforms and urged members of the public to report anyone found to be perpetrating in such act to the nearest police station.
“We want to bring to the notice of the public that they should be cautious. NATFORCE is not selling forms for recruitment nor does it sell uniforms. Anyone found doing son should be reported to the nearest police station,” he said.
While appealing to the National Assembly to pass the NATFORCE Bill, Okereke called on the president to inaugurate the national taskforce so that they can commence work in earnest.
He said: “The national task force is a resourceful body that has not been utilised for the benefit of the country. We plead with President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly inaugurate the taskforce.
“We call on the National Assembly to pass the NATFORCE Bill… We are appealing to the Senate President to impress it on his colleagues to pass the Bill.”
