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Tag: Inspector-General of Police

  • ICRC lauds police over action on gunshot victims

    ICRC lauds police over action on gunshot victims

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Wednesday lauded the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for ensuring victims of gun shots are offered treatments in health facilities across the country.

    The committee said there has been misconceptions on the constitutional provision, which until recently has led to casualties.

    ICRC Health Care in Danger Focal Person, Felix Onwudegu, during a training in Abuja explained that the advocacy has fortunately scaled through the National Assembly but yet to get the President’s approval.

    He said management of hospitals are gradually changing their perceptions and accepting the new development due to more awareness creation.

    “The police IGP made a declarative statement on this in Lagos sometime last year. Police are disseminating information along their information channels to sensitise their officers so that victims with gun wounds would be treated and later reported to the police station,” Onwudegu added.

    Section 4 (2) of the Robbery and Firearm, Special Provisions Act 1984 says, “It shall be the duty of any person, hospital or clinic that admits, treats or administers any drug to any person suspected of having bullet wounds to immediately report the matter to the police.”

    However in a public notice, circular issued by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, last year October, he stated that, “The NPF must not prevent prompt access to, or delivery of health care for accident victims or gunshot wounded patients.”

    “The accident victims or gunshot wounded patients do not require police clearance to receive medical treatment. However, it should be reported to the Police,” he added.

    He appealed to the media to further increase the awareness and support the advocacy.

    Speaking on protection of health facilities, Onwudegu said health workers have right to seek protection from the security operatives.

    He emphasised need for media involvement in reporting humanitarian issues, especially as it relates to attack on children, women and vulnerable members of the society.

  • British High Commission trains police officers, others

    British High Commission trains police officers, others

    The British High Commission in Nigeria in conjunction with the office of the Inspector General of Police has trained  Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs), Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and personnel of other sister security agencies in Zone 9 police command.

    Speaking while declaring the training course open, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris said that the training is necessary as it will enable those selected for the course to rise to the occasion when the need arises.

    Idris who was represented by AIG Hosea Karma, the Assistant Inspector General of police in charge of zone 9 comprising Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo states said that the participants will be trained on counterterrorism and crisis management.

    He said that the sister agencies participating in the course include fire service, Civil Defence, NEMA, Road Safety Corps among others, stressing that the importance of the course cannot be overemphasised.

    The IGP said that such incidences may occur in any form, which informed the course.

    “This will make it possible for them to handle such incidences when they happen,” he said. “I am very happy that fire service and Road Safety Corps are participating in the course, because in the case of fire incident they will be there to handle the situation while the police will be around to ensure security of life and property and against looting”.

    “This is the same case with accidents were members of the Road Safety will be around to clear the accident debris, while the police will be around to ensure that there is free traffic flow”.

    The police boss said that the essence of the training is very important “because when properly trained the participants will be able to do well when accidents occur”.

    “The training will also enable them to know their role when such incidences occur, you therefore need to take full advantage of the training to enable you save life and property of people”.

    In his contribution, the special adviser to Abia State governor on Police Matters, Sir Ugochukwu Obi described the training by the British High Commission as timely, as it will benefit the police and other security agencies in the zone.

    Obi said that security is of paramount importance in any state that wants to progress, “Which is the reason behind our governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is working tirelessly to ensure that the state is safe at all times”.

    He said that the training will keep the police and their sister agencies up to date with modern technology in crime dictation, stressing that the benefits of the course will go a long way in ensuring that the society will no longer suffer in the area of security”.

    The Abia governor’s adviser on police matters then called for a continuous retraining of the security officers, adding that the training being held in the state is a sign that the state is very much safe.

  • Senate invites IG-P over alleged unpaid N6.5bn revenue

    Senate invites IG-P over alleged unpaid N6.5bn revenue

    The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Alleged Fraudulent Activities in Collection, Accounting, Remittance and Expenditure by Revenue Generating Agencies has invited the Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Mr Ibrahim Idris, to appear before it.

    The committee’s Chairman, Sen. Solomon Adeola, said in statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr Kayode Odunaro, on Sunday in Abuja.

    According to him, the invitation followed findings on a N6.5 billion unpaid revenue accruing from the Lagos Trade Fair Complex.

    He said, others invited to appear before the committee are the Director Generals of Directorate of State Security (DSS), Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

    Adeola said the essence of the invitation was to get the Police and DSS to assist the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) in recovering the money, which had accrued for over nine years.

    He said that the invitation was to also assist in ejecting the concessionaire of the Trade Fair Complex, LITFC, AULIC Nigeria Limited and recovering the complex.

    Adeola said it had become necessary to recover the 322 hectares multi billion Naira complex following a huge debt due in the N40 billion lease fees.

    Adeola quoted the Director-General of BPE, Mr Alex Okoh, as saying the concession agreement to AULIC Nigeria Limited was revoked in early September by the Federal Government.

    He further quoted Okoh as saying all efforts to eject the concessionaire including the use of the Divisional Police at the complex and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved abortive.

    Adeola said findings showed that “after the initial fees of N200 million paid by the concessionaire in 2007 and another N12 million, it has not paid a dime to the federal government, with outstanding revenue of N6.5 billion.

    “The concessionaire has bastardised the trade fair complex with hospitality and real estate businesses without approved plans.

    “It is shocking that an individual or corporate organisation could operate so lawlessly, withholding federal government revenue, while contravening a government revocation order of his concessionaire agreement.

    “What we need to do at this point is to recover the Trade Fair Complex from the concessionaire and subsequently pursue the issue of N6.5 billion unremitted federal government revenue.

    “Since the local police cannot handle the ejection with the concessionaire still operating and collecting revenue using all manner of tactics including thuggery, we are inviting the IG-P and DG-DSS to address this illegal challenge on the authority.

    “I am surprised that anyone can flagrantly operate as if he is above the law and the government,’’ the statement read in part. (NAN)

  • IGP Idris manipulated his retirement age, says Misau

    IGP Idris manipulated his retirement age, says Misau

    The Senator representing Bauchi Central, Isa Hamma Misau, yesterday  accused Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, of manipulating his retirement age.

    Misau, who appeared before the Senate committee investigating the allegations against the IGP, told the panelists that the police boss employed  four civilians in his office with the salary of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).

    He said the police boss engaged the services of a retired police officer to handle investigation as against the code and Act establishing the Police Force, adding that all investigative cases were supposed to be under the Deputy Inspector- General of Police, DIG in Area 10, Garki, Abuja and not a retired officer.

    The eight- member ad-hoc committee has Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena ( Edo North) as chairman.

    He said the expected date of retirement of the IGP was fraudulently doctored on the staff list of Senior Police Officers from 3rd January to 15th January, 2019.

    Misau said: “Sometime in July 2017, I was in the office of Senator Baba Kaka, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business when a Daily Trust reporter sought my views on the information that policemen pay as much as N500,000 for Special Promotion.

    “To verify this information, I called some serving police officers who confirmed to the three of us that the information was not only true, but that the amounts paid are up to N2,500,000, in addition to other information.

    “I hereby forward for your consideration, the detailed terms of allegation against the Police the Inspector General of Police, 1GP and the Police Service Commission: Deployment of Policemen to Private Organisation: Between 50,000 to 100,000 policemen are routinely deployed by the Police to oil companies, oil servicing companies, banks, oil marketers, and private individuals etc, with regular payments made to the police.. While these monies are estimated to run intobillions monthly, they are however, unaccounted for.

    “Today, the situation is so bad that businessmen with dubious characters and suspicious businesses now go about with full detachment of policemen and some with full convoy and blasting siren, especially in Lagos, Port Harcourt and other major cities in the country, thereby worsening the country’s policing ratio of 1 policeman to about 800 citizens as against the UN recommended ratio of 1 policeman to 400 citizens.

    “Special Promotion Racketeering by the IGP and the Police Service Commission: The Police Service Commission whose main function is to recruit, train, discipline, promote and retire members of the Force, appear to have left its core mandate to indulge almost exclusively in promotion racketeering. When the IGP was appointed, 23 AIGs and above were compulsorily retired to enable him discharge his duty, showing clearly that special promotion is injustice, because it is an attempt to put junior officers above their seniors.

    “Favouritism in Promotion/ Appointment of Police Commissioners: There is a lot of favouritism in the promotion/ appointment of Commissioners of Police. Junior Deputy Commissioners of Police are given Commissioner of police on acting capacity as against seniority and merit thereby blocking eligible candidates. A recent example is the present CP Lagos who is a junior DCP to two other DCPs, was now given acting CP and posted to Lagos. These acts of favouritism have eroded discipline in the Force which is the backbone of any successful organisation.

    “Postings/Transfers: Transfers of Commissioners of police, State Mopol Commanders and Special Protection Unit Commanders are riddled in corruption. While there are Chief Superintendent of Police, CSPs with over 10 years’ experience. Out of 41 Mopol commanders, about 19 Mopol commanders are junior Superintendents of Police, (SP).

    “It is so bad that instead of the Commissioners of Police in charge of units, like the Police Mobile Force, Special Protection Unit, the postings and transfers are effected in the office of the IGP because of special interest;

    “It is alleged that a woman Assistant Commissioner of Police who is in charge of posting and transfer at the Force Headquarters, Abuja and is known to be close to the IGP, collects money for general postings and transfers, and this is verifiable through the ACP’s account details and those of her immediate subordinate  officers and men as the money collected are usually through bank transfers

    “The 1GP posted a Commissioner of police who for the past 17 years has not worked/ served in a police formation to take charge of a state. This officer who was a former Police ADC to the late former Governor Alamiesiegha, and also served under former President Jonathan, is now the commissioner of Police, Adamawa state. Foisting such officer without operational experience has been a major setback to the current administration’s fight against criminality, especially the Boko Haram insurgency. This officer enjoyed special promotions three times to become a Commissioner of police while his mates are currently Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs). Such level of operational inexperience is not only a risk to the officer himself, but also to his command and the state at large.

    “Illegal Diversion of Fund By the 1GP: The IGP is alleged to have diverted the funds provided under the 2016 Appropriations Act for the acquisition of Armoured Personnel Carriers, (APC) to purchase of luxury cars without virement. And that he essentially runs the police like a personal property by applying police resources and valuable assets to personal use by his children and close associates.

    “Use of Special Units to Undermine Legitimate Police Departments: The 1GP introduced a curious system where so many investigation units report directly to him. In addition to the above mentioned Units, others include IGP Response Team, IGP Monitoring Unit, and Special Investigation Panel, (SIP) which is inappropriately headed by a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police in contravention of Public Service Rules. It should be noted however that according to the police standard operation, all investigation and intelligence units are legally under the Force Criminal Investigation Department. The current situation has not only rendered the Deputy Inspector General’s office moribund, but also made the office, redundant.

    “The Inspector General of Police is also in the habit of regularly withdrawing cases from the DIG Investigations / Intelligence and reassigned to junior officers loyal to him, thereby effectively undermining the Deputy Inspector General.

    “Poor Attention to Personnel Welfare:  Attention is not paid to welfare and logistics need of officers and men, thereby causing low morale. The conditions in the Police Academy, Police barracks and Police Colleges are not only inhospitable but are also inhabitable. About four months ago, about 3000 policemen were deployed from 30 states to Maiduguri, Borno state for special duties, without logistics. To avoid paying the necessary allowances, signals were issued to convert the deployment to permanent transfer after three months special duty.”

  • Alleged falsehood case: Court grants Misau bail

    Alleged falsehood case: Court grants Misau bail

    An Abuja High Court on Thursday granted bail to Sen. Isah Misau, standing trial in a case of alleged injurious falsehood brought against him by the Federal Government.

    Misau, a serving senator, is facing a five-count charge bordering on injurious falsehood against the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro.

    The judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, who declined to grant bail to Misau on self-recognition, set the bail bond at N5 million with two reliable sureties each in like sum.

    The judge had declined the prayer made by Misau’s counsel, Mr. Godwin Obla (SAN) asking the court to grant bail to his client on self-recognition.

    Read Also: Court remands two men for homicide

    Bello said: “for a reason I am not considering the request made by the learned Silk.

    “It has now become customary that anytime senior citizens are arraigned in the court and are granted bail on self-recognition, they suddenly realise that they have the need to engage in some personal trips outside.

    “And sometimes they stayed for a long period of time and such cases will be delayed because of their absence.’’

    Bello adjourned the case to Nov. 28 and 29 for hearing.

    Earlier, Misau had pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him.

    Mr Hadi Saleh, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that between Aug. 10 and Oct. 5, the defendant had made some injurious falsehood statements against Idris and Okiro which were widely publicised by the media.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provision of Section 393 (1) of the Penal Code.

  • Protect yourself first, IG tells Policemen

    Protect yourself first, IG tells Policemen

    The Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris has described as embarrassing and annoying the recent kidnap of the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Sarkin Pawa, Niger State.

     The DPO, Superintendent of Police (SP) Amos Aliyu was on Sunday kidnapped around his residence at Turin Fulani by unidentified persons.
    Speaking yesterday in Abuja during a meeting with Commissioners of Police and other senior Officers, the IG urged policemen to be careful and protect themselves first.
    Idris also said Commissioners of Police would be vicariously liable if anything happens to any policeman under them.
    He said: “There should be more visibility policing. Policemen should be deployed to flashpoint areas to take care of security because the presence of police in those areas would help in the reduction of crime.
    “We must take the protection of our officers seriously. We have a problem; two days ago, one of our DPOs was kidnapped. How can you be a DPO, you have all the policemen under your Command and then you start driving as if you don’t have anybody.
    “You allow the useless kidnappers to pick you and your orderly, it is very embarrassing. We had the same issue in Zamfara state where an ACP going on leave travelled alone. It is embarrassing. 
    “Utilize the men you have and you must protect yourself first. You can only protect others when you are protected because you are a target.
    “The information we are receiving is that our ACP’s vehicle was abandoned in a bush and he has not been seen which obviously means that he has been kidnapped. How can we be living with such situation? It is becoming an embarrassment. DPOs and other personnel should be careful of their movement.
    The police chief further said: “The CP Niger said there is contact already and they are working on it. Policemen who are protecting others should not allow themselves to be a target. We should be careful in our movement.
    “Our officers have to be concerned about their personal safety first because this issue is becoming an embarrassment. CPs would also be vicariously liable for any policeman that is just picked up like a fowl or anything, it is very annoying.
     
    “We should be careful in our movement. If you notice that an area is not safe, you should deploy men to those areas. We should take their protection very seriously. Our policemen should also be careful with the way they move around.
    On the recent law on kidnapping, Idris said: “Nigeria Police Force is very glad about the law on kidnapping. With the law which is a death sentence for those that would be tried on kidnapping, the spate of kidnapping in Nigeria would be reduced.
    The IG also disclosed that additional policemen would be deployed to join the 17 units who are already on the ground for the Governorship election.
    The IG explained that the deployment which would be massive would ensure a credible election which is slated for November 18, 2017.
    He said: “The major challenges we are having now are the election we would be having in Anambra state and one or two other states.
    “The deployment that would be done would involve all commands. We are going to send directives to all CPs for the mobilization of officers who are the Special Unit and the Conventional police for the election.
    “When you receive the directive, act on them promptly because it is going to be a massive deployment. We don’t have time to delay in our planning and deployment because the election date is too close. It is important for us to prepare so that we can provide personnel and logistics in order for the officers to perform creditably.
    “It is unfortunate that before this election, we had some minor problems especially in the southeast but I believe the challenges have been addressed because we deployed 17 units there and with the additional deployment requested, we are going to take care of security in that location.”
    The IG also hinted on a proper and attractive outfit for traffic wardens and policemen in charge of traffic control. 
    He said: “We must take care of the turnout of traffic wardens and those in charge of traffic control. Their turn out must be white. Their armband and others must be white including their cap. 
    “When you go to a country, some of the things you admire is the turn out of the policemen controlling traffic on the road. It adds a lot to regularization of the country. They should turn out properly and look professional. Our men should take it seriously. Especially in major cities like Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos and, FCT.”
  • Police to deploy adequate personnel for Anambra guber poll

    Police to deploy adequate personnel for Anambra guber poll

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Wednesday, said adequate personnel would be deployed for the Anambra governorship election scheduled for Nov. 18.

    Idris, who disclosed this at the monthly meeting with Commissioners of Police and above in Abuja, did not, however, give the number of the personnel to be deployed.

    “The Anambra governorship election is going to involve all police commands. It is going to be a massive deployment for the election,” he said.

    “It is very important to prepare for the election. We are going to adequately take care of security in Anambra,” he said.

    He said that all police commands across the country would be involved in the election.

    Read also: 2.2m registered voters for Anambra governorship election

    On deployment of personnel, Idris directed all commands commissioners of police to address the indiscriminate deployment of personnel to individuals and corporate bodies in their commands.

    “You must check the deployment of personnel to ensure it complies with the Police Act and regulations.

    “We are going to take absolute control of our officers attached to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) across the county,” he said.

    He charged the commissioners to monitor deployments of personnel to avoid illegality, adding that they were in charge of deployment of personnel in the commands.

    The inspector-general urged the officers to be committed to the security challenges confronting the country.

    He also enjoined the commissioners to always ensure that adequate security was provided for personnel working under them.

    Idris said that the kidnap of some police officers recently in Niger was embarrassing to the entire Police Force and the country.

    He said that all commissioners of police henceforth would be held liable for the kidnap of their officers.

    The police boss advised commissioners of police to always ensure that policemen were deployed to flash points in their various commands.

    In a related development, the inspector-general has presented a Cheque of N17 million to 10 out of the 1,285 next-of kins of deceased police officers who died in active service.

    He said that N 3 billion had been released for the payment of the beneficiaries who had been screened to get between N 1 million and N6 million.

    Idris said that the category of officers and men who benefited fell within the group Life Assurance Scheme started in 2004 and when payment began in 2012.

    He said that the Federal Government had appropriated N5 billion in the 2017 budget for the settlement of 2013,2015 and 2016 arrears of death benefit of officers.

  • Roofs over their heads

    Roofs over their heads

    With the delivery of the 312 units of flats at the Badagry Barracks, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has fulfilled his pledge to renovate all such facilities, writes PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU.

    Policemen and women live in the most deplorable conditions. Their barracks are usually eyesores; comprising near-collapsed buildings, dysfunctional sewage systems, water systems and dumping sites for waste.

    Reports have been made of policemen sleeping inside abandoned vehicles for lack of shelter while their families squatted with relatives at different locations.

    For many years, activists and environmentalists have decried the poor state of police barracks across the country.

    Although the police housing project began about eight years ago, only the Goodluck Jonathan Housing Estate, Idimu, comprising 500 units of three-bedroom apartments was delivered.

    But at assumption of duty, the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris declared that one of his focal points would be the provision of decent accommodation for officers and men of the force. He had decried the current practice where over 60 per cent of policemen resided outside the barracks, highlighting the dangers inherent in it.

    Despite paucity of funds, the police boss, who had vigorously embarked on renovation of training schools and barracks at Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto states recently unveiled 312 units of two and three bedroom apartments out of the promised 1,083.

    Situated at Mowo in Badagry, the facility named Muhammadu Buhari Estate spans across 64 hectares and has provision for nursery and primary schools, mini-shopping complex, banks, events centre and a petrol station.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Police Co-operative, Shola David described the estate as a promise kept.

    He said the facility was dear to the IGP’s heart as a result of his resolve to improve the welfare of officers and men of the force.

    David said: “This is a remarkable day in the history of the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of Idris.  It is the first phase which has 312 units comprising three and two bedroom flats. Officers of the Nigeria Police Force have shown interest in the housing project. The same project has been embarked on in Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto and is being replicated here in Lagos.

    Executed by Realmax Realtors Limited, under Public Private Partnership (PPP), the first tranch was completed within eight months and built on buyer-owner basis.

    Idris, who also unveiled the newly constructed Mopol 22 Headquarters building in Ikeja reiterated his commitment to improve the welfare of police officers.

    He said: “In my inaugural speech on July 22, last year, I said the Nigeria Police Force would be guided by international core values of policing with integrity and the rule of law. I also assured police personnel of my determination to accelerate all issues that concern the welfare of policemen and their families such as promotion, prompt payment of salaries and provision of affordable housing units, among others.

    “Those promises I pursued with zeal because of my firm belief that police officers deserve the support in terms of welfare and other logistics; given the nature of our job. In view of the above, my administration has sustained major result-oriented initiatives aimed at re-invigorating the police welfare system through police co-operative and insurance, which involved investments made by police personnel.

    “The product of this painstaking effort has culminated in the housing units named after the President, whose moral support has brought us this far. It is therefore with high sense of fulfilment, honour and gratitude that I inaugurate the Muhammadu Buhari Housing Estate Mowo, Badagry Lagos State in keeping with my promise to my hard working police officers across the country.

    “Recall that similar projects were inaugurated in other parts of the country such as Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and FCT while that of Enugu will begin soon. The welfare of the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, especially the rank and file, is upmost for a more functional, proactive and effective police force.

    “I enjoin you to show more dedication to duty by applying best practices in your dealings with the civil populace and with total loyalty to our dear nation. I also thank the police co-operative society and our partners for making this dream a reality.”

    Remax Realtors’ Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Adefunke Adesoji said: “We are pleased to commend the uncanny leadership qualities of the IGP for making today’s event a reality and finding time out of his busy schedules to inaugurate the project. We do appreciate your moral and financial supports at the most critical time since you came on board.

    “We see this not only as support to our organisation but rather your unflinching commitment to the welfare of the officers and men of the force by providing them with decent and affordable accommodation they can all be proud to call their own now and at retirement.

    “The amenities provided are modern, with water reticulation systems to provide water to the estate, a central sewage processing system and over 14 kilometres of paved road running through the estate.

    “Other facilities planned for the estate are nursery and primary schools, a mini-shopping complex with a banking facility, an event management centre and a petrol station.

    “The estate is planned over 64 hectares of land to give a befitting layout and ambience for a  21st Century development that would appreciate in value, particularly giving the intended commercial significance of Badagry as planned by Governor Akinwumi  Ambode and eventual completion of the 10-lane expressway under re-construction.

    “The construction of Muhammadu Buhari Estate threw up several challenges that led us to the drawing board on many occasions, including possible flooding challenge.

    “The project also suffered a major setback, having been caught at construction stage with massive foreign exchange devaluation.

    “For example, the exchange rate at contract signing was N156 to one dollar which rose and invariably hovered between N380 and N450 to one dollar at different points. This led to higher cost of building materials on both imported and local goods, thereby spiralling costs of construction at an astronomical rate.

    “We thank the Police Mortgage Bank Plc for providing further funds to meet the shortfalls at critical moment.

    “Our commitment to the IGP and the Police Multi-purpose Society Limited is that the delivery of other housing units would definitely be an improvement in timing and quality.”

  • Another storm against Buhari’s men

    Another storm last week gathered again against some key officials in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    The two officials now in the eye of the storm are the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

    Despite one of the cardinal goal of the government being fighting corruption to a standstill, it is sad that the main issues against these two officials border on corruption.

    The lid was blown off the alleged irregularities and on-going mess in NNPC when a protest letter by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu addressed to the President, was leaked.

    The country is yet to fully recover from the massive looting that took place in the oil sector under the past administrations.

    While the prices of oil in the international market hovered over $100 per barrel under those administrations, observers noted that there was little to show in the country for the huge revenue.

    Rather than use the income to develop the country, Nigeria remained lacking in basic infrastructures while substantial parts of the income fraudulently found their ways into the private pockets of those in charge.

    The former Minister of Petroleum Resources under the last administration, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, is still facing one corrupt charge or the other in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

    Besides other allegations against the current GMD of NNPC, Kachikwu had last week specifically alleged in the letter that $25 billion contracts awarded by Baru didn’t follow due process.

    The letter, titled ‘Re: Matters of insubordination and lack of adherence to due process by the GMD NNPC – Dr. Baru,’ with reference number HMS/MPR/001/VOL.1/100 and dated August 30, 2017, reads in parts “Mr. President, yesterday (August 29, 2017) like many other Nigerians, l resumed work and confronted with many publications of massive changes within the NNPC.

    “Like the previous reorganisations and ‘repostings’ done since Dr. Baru resumed as GMD, I was never given the opportunity before the announcements to discuss these appointments.

    “This is so despite being the Minister of State, Petroleum, and Chairman, NNPC Board.

    “The board of NNPC, which you appointed and which has met every month since its inauguration, and which, by the NNPC, is meant to review these planned appointments and postings, was never briefed.

    “Members of the board learnt of these appointments from the pages of social media and the press release of NNPC.”

    Stressing that Baru ignored his earlier warnings to him, he said “Not only did he not give my letter the courtesy of a reply, he proceeded to announce the appointments without consultation on board concurrence.

    “Mr. President, please note that there is a board service committee, whose function is to review potential appointments and termination of senior staff prior to implementation. This committee was also not consulted.

    “The effect of the attitude of the GMD and the sidelining of the board is that there is a fear culture in the NNPC,” Kachikwu said.

    In his prayers to the President, Kachikwu said “We save NNPC and the oil industry from collapse arising from the above non-transparent practices and empower the board you inaugurated to do the needful.

    “That you save the office of the Minister of State from further humiliation and disrespect by compelling all parastatals to submit to oversight regulatory mandate and proper supervision which I am supposed to manage on your behalf,” he stated

    The major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wasted no time to demand Baru’s immediate suspension.

    The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, had said “As a political party, we expect that the President, who prides himself as an indefatigable corruption fighter, would for once try to live above board, by genuinely allowing one of his own, accused of corruption, get properly investigated and prosecuted as a show of his impartiality in the war against corruption.

    “He should do this to correct the open impression Nigerians have about his so called anti-corruption war; that it’s just a tool of persecution of perceived enemies.

    “We view the allegations levelled against Baru by Kachikwu as too grave to be swept under the carpet and we insist that the NNPC GMD must be treated like an accused who should not have the opportunity to influence investigation into his alleged misdeeds.

    “In this light, we demand an immediate suspension of the NNPC GMD so that proper investigation can be carried out by the relevant anti-corruption agencies.” he said

    Also worried by the allegations in the oil sector, the Senate last week set up a committee chaired by Senator Aliyu Wammako, to investigate the issue.

    Unlike the Baru case where the allegations were raised within the executive arm of government, the allegations against the Inspector General of Police was spearhead by a sitting Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Isa Hamma Misau (Bauchi Central).

    Apart from corruption allegations, Misau also raised allegation of infidelity against the Inspector General of Police.

    The Senate constituted a Special panel, headed by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) to investigate the Inspector General of Police for alleged misappropriation of funds, illegal promotion and posting of senior officers and bribery and to also investigate claims that the IG put an officer in the family way and secretly wedded her in Kaduna.

    It also mandated its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate claims of professional misconduct against the IGP.

    All these allegations came to the public domain few months after some top officials of the government including  the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, was investigated on alleged corruption charges.

    His case is yet to be resolved as the President might still be studying the investigative report submitted by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo led three man committee.

    Also the resolution by the Senate not to confirm the appointment of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, is still subsisting.

    It will be a plus for the government to do everything possible to get to the bottom of these fresh cases.

    The administration should  also remain fair and just to all those involved in the alleged corruption issues, by giving all, fair hearing in a bit to get to the root of the issues.

    This is important, at least, to counter the frequent claims of selectiveness of its anti-corruption battle been leveled by the opposition party against the government.

    It should guide against being seen and viewed as playing the ostrich when corruption case is leveled against one of its officials.

     

  • IGP assesses Abia after unrest

    IGP assesses Abia after unrest

    After members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) clashed with military personnel in Abia State, Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun visits the state to evaluate the damage and smoothen relations among communities, SUNNY NWANKWO writes

    Since the clash two weeks ago, prominent figures have been visiting Abia State with peace on their minds. Northern state governors were the first to show up, thanking Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his Southeast governors for their role in quelling the crisis with members of Indigenous People of Biafra or IPOB, and appealing to northern residents to follow the path of peace.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi and Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of Operations, Police Force Headquarters, Taiwo Lakanu also played a huge role in curtailing the crisis. Lakanu led about 500 mobile policemen to the state in the heat of the crisis.

    Heads of security agencies in the country have visited too, all playing a part in saving the country an unnecessary catastrophe.

    The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun was the latest to take his turn. He was scheduled to visit the burnt Ariaria Police Station and Onions market along Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway. The IGP was also billed to meet with Yoruba and Hausa communities in Aba, the commercial and enterprise hub of the state.

    Though the IGP failed to come to Aba which, The Nation gathered, was as a result of delayed flight owing to bad weather, he posthumously promoted Cyril Nwosu, the station officer of Ariaria police station who later died from wounds sustained when suspected IPOB members invaded the station. The late Nwosu is now Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

    The IGP also held a town-hall meeting with traditional rulers and major stakeholders in the state at the Michael Okpara Auditorium where he stated that Nigeria would function better when united, adding that it was the responsibility of every Nigerian to ensure that there was tolerance and unity among the ethnic groups in the country.

    The police chief assured that the force through its personnel would do everything possible to ensure that peace was sustained in the state and across the country at all times.

    He said, “We have seen a lot of changes, the happiness on the faces of people. I believe that Nigeria will grow stronger and I have faith in the unity of this country. We see the police force as enablers that can help us drive growth in all aspects of our economic growth in Nigeria. We believe firmly that unless there is security we cannot grow or prosper.

    “History is replete with countries that try to break away and come back also. So I want you to continue with your work. Beyond the recession, Nigeria is trying to create a foothold by attracting direct foreign investment, so we need to have security.”

    Also speaking at the interactive session with Abia traditional rulers and members of Hausa and Yoruba communities at the Michael Okpara Auditorium later, Governor Ikpeazu assured that Abia is a very peaceful state and would remain so despite the ugly incidents that broke out in the state.

    “We reaffirm our faith in one Nigeria,” he said.

    Ikpeazu who commended the IGP for visiting the state, also used the opportunity as the chief marketer of made in Aba goods, to presented the IGP with some home-made products at the Government House.

    The IGP was accompanied on the visit by the Assistant inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 9 Umuahia, Hosea Karma, the state Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi and his Imo State counterpart, Chris Ezike, among other senior police officers.