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Tory women’s group calls for investigation into police misogyny

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Tory women’s group calls for investigation into police misogyny

The Conservatives’ young women’s group has called for an investigation into “the apparent culture of misogyny in the police”, piling pressure on Boris Johnson after he faced down calls for a major independent inquiry.

Conservative Young Women spoke out in the wake of Sarah Everard’s murder and after Met police officers were charged over photographs taken at the scene of the murders of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, which were then allegedly shared in a WhatsApp group.

They called the response from the police “deplorable … from the overzealous policing of Sarah Everard’s vigil, to public statements which effectively blame victims”.

“Many of us feel unsafe and all of us are sad and angry that the epidemic of violence against women and girls has been left unaddressed for so long,” the group said, adding: “Every one of us has thought to ourselves, ‘That could have been me.’”

The group, which represents women in the party under 35, said political leaders needed to make urgent recommendations to police forces including tougher and swifter action against police officers under investigation for misogyny or violence towards women.

In response, at an event hosted by the group, the solicitor general Alex Chalk warned there would be scrutiny of the actions of Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick.

“The home secretary will be watching very closely to see that the vetting issue is properly investigated and scrutinised because a lot of people will have real concerns about how Wayne Couzens slipped through the net, and they’ll want to be absolutely satisfied that things are about to improve,” he said.

At the CYW event, Nimco Ali, a close friend of the prime minister’s wife, Carrie Johnson, said there needed to be a “societal shift” on misogyny which meant “tackling the horny scaffolder just in the way we did the racist uncle … we have to make those conversations socially unacceptable.”

The group’s chair, Ella Robertson McKay, said political leaders were “feeling the heat” on the issue and that the group would continue to campaign throughout conference.

“This is systemic, structural misogyny at its worst,” she told the Guardian. She said police forces must commit to a much tougher line on misogyny among officers.

“When you can see social media groups with who is on it, what the comments are and who said what – in any other private business you would be out the door that afternoon.”

CYW said there should be a review into the “apparent culture of misogyny in the police, the sharing of images of victims, and why a serving police officer [reportedly] nicknamed ‘the rapist’ by his fellow officers was not investigated for inappropriate behaviour”.

The group’s statement was backed by the Tory chair of the Commons’ women and equalities committee, Caroline Nokes, who also criticised the Tory chair Oliver Dowden after he said it was “crass” to refer to male privilege.

Nokes said the CYW statement gave “proactive suggestions to help rebuild trust in the police and address some of the underlying issues about male violence against women.”

“We need to not just focus on repeat offenders, but look at the gateway offences, and crack down on them,” she said. “If the government is serious, it needs to act now, not use day one of the conference to deny male privilege exists.”

The foreign secretary, Liz Truss, who is minister for women and equalities, declined at a Telegraph fringe event to say the Met was institutionally misogynist. “But I do think we need a change of culture in the police, where there have been appalling failings,” she said.

Speaking earlier, Boris Johnson rejected calls for a public inquiry into the police’s failings on sexual violence and in the Everard case, saying investigations by the Met and the Independent Office for Police Conduct should be allowed to happen first.

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AGF, Fagbemi takes over casefile of #Endbadgovernance protesters from police

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi has asked the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile of the 76 Endbadgovernance protesters who were arraigned for treason.

Fagbemi disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

This comes after the #Endbadgovernance protesters, described as minors, were arraigned and later granted N10 million bail each, while the matter was adjourned till January 2025.

Reacting, the AGF said the case would be taken over by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) under the Office of AGF from today, Saturday, 2nd November, 2024.

He said he has directed that the DPPF commence the process for the consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward than the January next date.

Fagbemi added that his move on the matter was necessary to make him make an informed decision.

“It has just come to my notice that the police have arraigned those arrested in connection with the Endbadgovernance violent protest in court for various offences, including treason.

“There are some issues my office will need to look into regarding the matter to enable me to take an informed decision.

“I am aware that the court has remanded the defendants in detention centres and adjourned the case to January.

“It is not within my power to vary the order of the court remanding the defendants in detention centres and adjourning the case to January.

“I have, however, directed the Nigeria Police to transfer the casefile to my office and hand over the same to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) tomorrow, Saturday, 2nd November, 2024.

“I have further directed the DPPF to immediately put machinery in motion for consideration of the court to bring the adjournment date forward (an earlier date),” he stated.

Recall that one of the 76 minors fainted in court on Friday.

Later, it was reported that the court granted the suspects N10 million bail each.

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“Most of them are married men, none of them is a minor” – Legal counsel to the Federal Government speaks on the arraignment of 76 minors

Legal counsel to the Federal government in the arraignment of 67 minors accused of participating in the End Bad Governance protest, Rimazonte Ezekiel, has come out to dismiss claims that the accused persons are minors and should not have been arraigned.

While speaking to newsmen after their arraignment, Rimazonte said contrary to public opinion, the 67 accused are not minors but “adults and that most of them are married.”

“These boys that we brought to court today, all of them are adults. Most of them are married men, None of them is a minor, Some of them are university graduates.
” The small small kids you are seeing here, they came with some of their parents to greet their loved ones.

“They are not the real suspects standing trial in his case. These boys were arrested in Kaduna and Zaria, Imagine the level we have found ourselves now.

” Do you know how much it cost us to be at this level of democracy in this country? These young boys are trying to destabilize Nigeria using the Russian flags and other countries, calling on the military to remove our President. Is it fair?”

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Oyebanji attributes leadership style to Mother’s lessons in humility, love

….as mother’s foundation donates multipurpose hall to church

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has attributed his approach to leadership to the virtues of humility, contentment, and love that his late Mother instilled in him, stressing that her emphasis on simplicity and service has been a major influence in his life and career.

Governor Oyebanji, who disclosed this on Friday at Ikogosi Ekiti, while commissioning an ultra-modern multipurpose hall donated to the First Baptist Church, Ikogosi, by the Abiyamo Esther Oyebanji Foundation, a foundation in memory of the Governor’s mother.
He said the lessons learned at home have guided his approach to governance, helping him maintain perspective and empathy in his service to humanity.

According to him, his late mother was an example of true motherhood who used all she had to assist the less privileged and trained her children the right way to success.

While calling on parents to inculcate the virtues of honesty, love and empathy in their children, the Governor charged the Church and the community to make the best use of the hall as well as cultivate good maintenance culture towards ensuring the durability of the facility.

He assured the community that more development projects would be executed within the town and other towns in the state, calling for a more united front in achieving collective growth and shared prosperity.

“We are here today to give glory to God and celebrate our late Mother who lived for us. Mummy is no more, the greatest legacy to her is what we are doing today, walking the talk, the way he brought us up in humility, contentment, and in love for everybody around us.”

“We were brought up to show love to everybody, to respect people, fear God and serve him. So I am happy today that between myself and my siblings, we are able to bring this together in her memory”, the Governor said.

Also speaking at the event, the wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji who described the late Esther Abosede Oyebanji as a disciplinarian and philanthropist, said the Governor’s leadership attributes of empathy and love for the people, as well as commitment to just causes were product of his upbringing, adding that they have been part of him long before he embraced public service.

Other dignitaries and community leaders at the event included the regent of Ikogosi Ekiti, Princess Omobola Adepoju, the President of the Ekiti Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Aribasoye, Prof. (Mrs) Ojo and Dr Temiola eulogized the late matriarch of the Oyebanji dynasty and commended the initiative of the children at immortalizing her.

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