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Tag: IGP

  • NGF congratulates Ag. IGP Adamu

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has congratulated the new Acting Inspector General of Police Mr. Adamu Abubakar Mohammed.

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat In a statement signed by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head, Media and Public Affairs believes that the appointment is well deserved considering his personal accomplishments.

    Adamu Mohammed Lafia had occupied the office of the Director of Peace Keeping operations, led the Enugu Police Command as Police Commissioner and was AIG in charge of Zone 5.

    Until his appointment, he was at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) as a directing staff. Adamu Mohammed Lafia is reputed to be a man of impeccable character.

    Apart from heading Police formations at their most strategic levels in Nigeria, Adamu Mohammed Lafia had also risen to the apex of international policing in Lyon France, where he rose through the hierarchy of the organization to ascend the exalted position of the Vice President of INTERPOL, a position he held for years with distinction.

    Read Also: Buhari decorates new IGP Adamu

    According to the statement, the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Asishana B Okauru said “I am absolutely sure that Adamu Mohammed Lafia would bring professionalism and true leadership to policing in our country”.

    Okauru, who had worked with several notable police officers during his time as the Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) further added that “I can attest to his solid pedigree and rich experience. He is arguably the most qualified serving police officer at this time, to occupy the very sensitive office of the Inspector General of Police”.

    The NGF sincerely hope that the new top cop would harness all his experiences from his previous offices, at home and abroad, with dexterity and a fervent drive to curb crime, ensure peace in the entire country and once again propound the policing principles that will lead Nigerians to believe that the police, “is your friend”.

  • ‘IGP not after Senate’s President life’

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has said he is not after the life of Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    The Senate President, in a statement at the weekend, asked the world to hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to him and members of his family.

    A statement by Force Headquarters’ spokesman Jimoh Moshood, an Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ag. DCP), said it perceived the claim by the Senate President as criminal defamation, hate speech and an insult.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force was drawn to a statement in the media on January 11, credited to the Senate President on the recent political development in Kwara State, where he raised allegations that ‘…the entire world to hold the IGP responsible if anything untoward happens to members of my family and myself and that the Inspector General of Police is after my life’ as serially false and mischievous.

    “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to categorically state that all the allegations in the statement of the Senate President are incorrect, misleading and false and should be disregarded and discountenanced by the public.

    “The Nigeria Police Force did not give any protection to any political thug or shield any APC thug to go to the family quarters of the Senate President in Agbaji, Ilorin and vandalise houses, shops and inflict wounds with machete on three people as claimed by the Senate President.

    “The Police did not equally receive any complaint or report of gunshot and wounding as claimed by the Senate President in other areas he mentioned such as Adewole/Adeta, Ile-otan and Ubandawaki/Pakata in Ilorin, Kwara State.”

  • IGP appoints Nwobodo Zone 7 AIG

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has appointed AIG Godwin Nwobodo as the new AIG of Zone 7 Command covering Kaduna, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Until his new appointment, Nwobodo was in charge of the Nigeria Police Border Patrol Force. He has resumed to the new position

    In a statement released by the police and signed by the Force Police Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, the appointment takes immediate effect.

    Nwobodo was the CP (Courses) at the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, before his recent promotion to the rank of AIGP (Assistant Inspector-General of Police) and his initial deployment to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru near Jos. He had served earlier in a number of commands and departments of the Nigeria Police Force from 1986. He was equally in the Nigerian contingents to the United Nations Peace Missions in Kosovo and Haiti.

    He attended several courses both within and outside Nigeria. Among them are Strategic Leadership and Command Course, and Advanced Detective Course both at the Nigeria Police Staff College, Jos, Unit Commanders Orientation Course and Training in Combat/Operations at Police Mobile Force Training College, GwozaBorno State Nigeria, Police Administration and Management Course II, Nigerian Army School of Military Police, Basawa, Zaria Kaduna State and the Higher Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the National Defence College, Nigeria. His M Sc. Strategic Studies dissertation on the “Nigeria Police Force in the Criminal Justice System and National Security” was recently approved leading to the award of the MSS degree of the prestigious University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

  • IGP seeks inter-agency cooperation for credible polls

    INSPECTOR-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has called for the strengthening of inter-agency collaboration for the conduct of credible elections.

    Idris made the call at a two-day training for officers and men of the Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja yesterday.

    The training, which was organised by Hi Tech Security Services and Training Ltd. in collaboration with the FCT Police Command, also had in attendance participants from Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Nigeria Prisons Service.

    The IGP, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of training, Mr. Sani Mohammed, urged personnel of the Force and other security agencies deployed for election duties to abide by the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    He said: “There is no way you can change the rules of the game in the middle of the game.”

    The police boss also urged the officers to maintain credibility, neutrality and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

    AIG in charge of Zone 7 Godwin Nwobodo stated that the election would be hitch-free, if stakeholders play by the rules.

    Nwobodo, who stated that voters always  forgo their franchise during elections to avoid been caught up in election-related conflicts, called on security agencies to ensure security of the electorate, electoral officials, candidates and materials before, during and after the 2019 elections.

    FCT Commissioner of Police Bala Ciroma said the training would afford the police and other security agencies to be better prepared for the elections.

    The CP, while suggesting that the training be a continuous one, said it should also form an integral part of security preparation for subsequent elections.

    He said the training would enhance the capacity of police personnel and other security agencies on election security management ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of FCT Alhaji Yahaya Bello stated that about 180,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were ready for collection in Abuja.

    He urged voters to endeavour to collect their PVCs to be able to vote for candidates of their choice in the forthcoming general elections.

  • Buhari’s gift to the IGP

    It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari seems to have made up his mind to extend the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, possibly by six months according to some media reports. The IGP was officially billed to retire from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on January 3, given that he has attained the mandatory 35 years in service. This gift of a six-month extension the IGP Idris is to enjoy is not unique to him in the history of the Buhari administration. It is a questionable abidance on the part of President Buhari by the wisdom in the famous idiom, what is sauced for the geese is sauced for the gander.

    On two different occasions the president extended the tenures of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas. Having been appointed on July 13, 2015, their respective tenures ended on July 13, 2017. The first extension of tenure for these security chiefs was in July to December 2017. Towards the end of December 2017, the president, exercising the power of his office as enshrined in Section 218 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, renewed the tenures of office of the defence and service chiefs – this time without any exact termination date. This silence on a finish date explains why those chiefs are still in office. As in their case, the question of why IGP Idris deserves an extension of tenure is still pleading for a logical answer.

    Beyond the fact that he is constitutionally empowered to renew the service time of his security aurochs, the president does not see any compelling reason to examine the quality of performances of these men in office before gifting them with more service space. For had President Buhari done so – training his mind objectively on the verifiable evidence of the security chiefs’ performances on the job –, it would have been unambiguously clear to him that they did not deserve the gift of tenure extension he generously showered on them. It is a no-brainer that, to maintain and improve on what works, viable organizations, corporations, and countries attract, maintain, and reward performing minds. Sadly, this cherished tradition of maintaining the best and rewarding performance is alien to the Buhari administration.

    What is IGP Idris being rewarded for? Exceptional transformation of the NPF? Provable improvement of the security situation across the country under his watch? Far from it. There can be no doubt that IGP Idris’s tenure in office in about the last three years has not catalysed significant improvement in the security situation of the country. In many regions of the country, insecurity of varied colourations stands out like the epaulets of a fashion-conscious officer. The IGP understands his job mainly as fighting the president’s political opponents. He is more active at stoking the fire of needless controversies and thumbing his nose at revered institutions than acquitting himself competently on the policing job. If he was not disregarding the directives of the president as the famous Benue case showed, he was either telling the National Assembly that he could not honour their invitation to give account of his stewardship, or instructing state governors to open up their states for unstructured cattle grazing. Under IGP Idris’s watch, the army under the equally disturbing leadership of Lt. Gen. Buratai has gained more visibility discharging the functions of the NPF. If there is any achievements IGP Idris could point to for which he merits the gift of a tenure extension in office, they will be at best microscopic and tokenistic, and of no enduring value to either the NPF or the country.

    Puzzlingly, instead of using the occasion of the expiration of IGP Idris’s tenure expiration to refresh the NPF with a far more competent, disciplined, and innovative head, President Buhari elected to reward averageness. What counts for excellence and thus fitting for reward in President Buhari’s reckoning is not difficult to fathom. It is sheer underperformance, incompetence, and the aridity of ordinariness. The appalling security condition in the land should have motivated the appointment of a new police boss. If excellence, competence, and character matter strongly to the president, he would have effortlessly observed that IGP Idris has given his best and that best is an athlete for a short-distance race. After all, it goes without saying that the presidency is as good as those who serve it.

    Without any doubt, the Buhari administration is its own worst enemy. It is self-defeating for the president to keep caterwauling that the administration is not making giant strides because corruption is fighting back. No, it is not corruption that is fighting back and constituting a clog in the wheel of his administration. It is his inability to strive for excellence and embrace the Socratic imperative to engage in self-examination. Many Nigerians have looked in vain for evidence of introspection and self-examination in the administration. Because this important ingredient is missing in the dish of governance the administration is providing, it has not been able to go beyond scratching the surface of good governance. This lack of self-examination so much hamstrings the administration that what it has going well for it is the active functioning of its propaganda mill. This lack of critical stock-taking makes the fine tradition of reshuffling of cabinet and re-examination of actions and policies foreign to the administration.

    The Socratic imperative to engage in self-examination may still come to the aid of the Buhari administration if it does not continue to abjure it – assuming he wins the February presidential election. If the president and his kitchen cabinet embraces this invaluable element, it will be abundantly manifest to them that garlanding the shoulders of IGP Idris with an extension of tenure is – although lawful – an unhelpful political expedient. If truly national security is a very serious matter (the reason for which people like the Shiite leader and his wife, and the former NSA Dasuki are hidden against their wills), then a tired and less innovative mind like IGP Idris needs to be allowed to enjoy his deserved retirement.

     

    • Ademola writes from the University of Manitoba, Canada.

  • Buhari, IGP meet in Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed doors with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.

    The meeting took place at the President’s office shortly after the Jumma’at prayer at the State House mosque.

    Idris was expected to retire from service on attainment of the mandatory 35 years in service on Thursday.

    A source yesterday said that the fate of the police boss will be known after the meeting.

    Read also: Minister charges grassroots canvassers to ensure victory for APC in Kwara

    “We are optimistic, but all will be known after this meeting,” the source said yesterday.

    Idris at the end of the meeting did not speak with journalists and no official statement yet on the latest development.

    Idris was appointed by President Buhari to replace Solomon Arase.

    The 59-year-old Ibrahim Idris enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1984 after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.

  • IGP reverses self, recalls Imo CP

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Friday caved in to pressure from governorship candidates in Imo State and recalled the redeployed Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi.

    This was two days after the State Commissioner of Police and all the senior Police officers in the state were transferred out of the State in an unprecedented shakeup in the Command.

    Governorship candidates of political parties in the state had described the mass transfer as a ploy to manipulate the election in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Also recalled were three Deputy Commissioners of Police and eleven Assistant Commissioners of Police redeployed to various states by the IGP.

    Read Also: Buhari, IGP meet in Aso Rock

    The IGP had on Wednesday transferred the Imo State CP, Galadanchi to Bauchi state and posted the current commissioner of Police in charge of the Kogi state Command, Ali Janga to the state.

    But 48 hours after the IGP cancelled the controversial transfer.

    It was gathered that a signal came on Friday morning stating that all the transferred police officers should return to their former offices with immediate effect.

    When our correspondent visited the Police Command headquarters in Owerri, Police officers were in a happy mood as they discussed the development.

  • Buhari, IGP meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.

    The meeting took place at the President’s office shortly after the Jumma’at prayer at the State House mosque.

    Idris was expected to retire from service on attainment of the mandatory 35 years in service on Thursday.

    A source on Friday said that the fate of the police boss will be known after the meeting.

    “We are optimistic, but all will be known after this meeting,” the source said.

    Idris at the end of the meeting did not speak with journalists and no official statement yet on the latest development.

    Read Also: Presidency: PDP is clutching at straws

    Idris was appointed by President Buhari on 21 March 2016, to replace Solomon Arase, who retired from the police force on 21 June 2016.

    The 59- year old Ibrahim Idris enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1984, after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.

    Speculations are rife that at the attainment of the Idris’ mandatory retirement age of 60 years of service in the police on Wednesday, January 3, the President may extend it for some period of time given that the country is on the verge of a national elections in few weeks time.

  • NHRC asks IGP to end police’s siege on Melaye’s house

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has faulted the continued siege on the Abuja home of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    A statement issued on Friday by NHRC’s spokesman, Lambart Oparah, quoted the commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu as arguing that the method adopted by the police violated the rights of other occupants of the house.

    The NHRC urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to direct the immediate withdrawal of his men from the Senator’s house.

    The NHRC said it will continue to condemn acts of impunity by law enforcement agents until they learn to carry out their law enforcement duties within minimum accepted international standards of law enforcement.

    The commission added that it will not tolerate any form of impunity, particularly from the security agencies as we approach the elections.

    Part of the statement reads: “The NHRC condemns in strong terms the method adopted by the Nigerian Police in laying siege in the house of Senator Dino Melaye and calls on the Inspector General of Police to direct the immediate withdrawal of his men from the Senator’s house.

    “Executive Secretary NHRC Tony Ojukwu faults the methodology adopted by the Police in effecting the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye.

    Read Also: Partake actively in politics, Lawmaker urges women

    “The right to freedom of movement of occupants of the house have been violated consequentially.

    “Is Senator Melaye the only occupant of the house? How about the rest of the family and other people in that house and neighborhood?

    “It is not a matter of whether the doors are locked from inside or outside but the rest of the people are now terrified and unsure of their security due to the siege.

    “Under normal circumstances the Police ought to invite anybody for questioning and not to lay siege in the house thereby threatening infringement of the right of others.”

  • NGO sues PSC, IGP over planned demotion of 3,791 officers

    A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG), has sued the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, over planned demotion of 3,791 offficers.

    In the suit before a Federal High Court, Lagos, GAFAMORG is seeking a declarative perpetual orders to restrain the Police Service Commission  (PSC) from effecting the planned demotion of over 3,791 police officers promoted between 2016 and 2018.

    The GAFAMORG, established for keeping alive the memory and ideals of the late human rights crusader, Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fahenmi (SAN), claimed it instituted the action  in the public interest and defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).

    Joined as co-defendants in the suit No. FHC/CS/2011/2018, are the newly constituted PSC headed by Alhaji Musiliu Smith (IGP rtd), and the incumbent IGP.

    The suit, which is yet to be assigned to a judge, is supported by 62-point affidavit in support of the originating summons, by a human rights lawyer, Debo Adeleke, defending the down-trodden and staunch member of the GAFAMORG, the plaintiff.

    According to the deponent, the suit was prompted by a press conference by the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, on October 2, 2018, when it was confirmed to newsmen that PSC had set up a panel headed by a retired Justice of Supreme Court, Justice  Clara Binta Ogunbiyi, (a member of the PSC), to review promotions made by the Police between 2016-2018.

    It was also averred that the planned demotion of the concerned officers was earlier confirmed by Olayinka Balogun, a retired police commissioner and Personal Assistant to the PSC Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, on September 19, 2018.

    Besides, the deponent also averred that a letter titled: “Re: Planned Demotion of Police Officers Promoted between 2016 and 2018 by the newly constituted board of the Police Service Commission”, dated September 23, 2018 by the IGP addressed to the PSC Chairman, was sighted by the plaintiff to buttress the fact that the planned demotion was not a mere rumour.

    Upon this discovery, the plaintiff said it wrote the PSC Chairman, pleading for a change of the planned action and to serve as a pre-action notice, which was yet to be responded to.

    “That the silence and or refusal to respond to our letter by the 1st Defendant is an indication that it planned to go ahead with the proposed demotion of officers promoted by the former PSC Board between 2016-2018 on recommendation of the IGP, based on their gallant performance, despite our pleadings,” the deponent averred.

    The deponent further argued that more worrisome was the inclusion of 45 gallant officers attached to the IGP Intelligent Response Team (IRT) headed by a courageous officer named DCP Abba Kyari and other police officers promoted by the PSC.

    The deponent further averred: “That the 45 officers of IRT were given special promotion consequent upon their investigation, successful  tracking and finally arresting the notorious billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudume Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans and his 21-member kidnapping syndicate”.

    He further argued that the concerned officers were recommended and approved  for promotion in line with the Nigerian Police policy on promotion and Force Orders by the IGP.

    It was further noted that the promotion was based on special performance to encourage and motivate the officers for improved performances.

    “That it is a fact that not only incontrovertible, but highly indubitably contested that IRT led by DCP Abba Kyari and his gallant officers have been exceptionally professional, efficient, committed, dedicated and superlatively courageous in carrying out their duties.

    “That the IRT officers led by Abba Kyari have distinguished themselves as special corps that believe in the corporate existence of our dear motherland and in the course of fighting crime in our society, they constantly stand the risk of sacrificing their precious lives in the course of carrying out their lawful duties galantly.”

    Part of achievements of the concerned officers, which the authorities considered worth appreciating and rewarded, according to the plaintiff, include: capturing of the deadliest kidnapper in the history of Nigeria, Henry Chibueze, a.k.a. Vampire in Owerri;  arrest of 22 Boko Haram terrorist gang responsible for kidnapping of Chibok girls in 2014 and responsible for series of suicide bombings/several attacks and ambush against security agents in Borno,  Yobe and Adamawa states.

    Others include: Arrest of notorious criminal, who threatened to kill former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar and  his entire family and arrest of 25 bank robbers, who invaded Offa, Kwara State and robbed five commercial banks, the gang also murdered over 31 innocent Nigerians.

    Urging the court to consider granting his prayers and halt the planned demotion,  the deponent averred that the affected officers will be highly demoralised and it will adversely affect their performances and consequently the security of the country will be negatively affected if the planned demotion is allowed.