There is uncertainty in the
Police Service Commission, PSC, following the silence of the Presidency over
the expected retirement of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, who
completed 35 years in service last Thursday, December 3, 2018.
Consequently, a source in the
commission told our correspondent that PSC was now waiting to see if any decision by the
federal government would be communicated when IGP Ibrahim Idris turns 60 years
of age on January 15, 2019.
According to civil service
statutes, the occupant of the office of the Inspector General of Police is to
resign after spending the mandatory 35 years in service or attaining 60 years
of age, whichever came first.
A source at the commission,
however, said there was nothing the PSC could do on its own, adding that they
were still open to the window of the IGP attaining 60 years of age on January
15 to proceed on retirement, except the President felt otherwise.
Incidentally, more than 10 senior
police officers, who were course mates of IGP Idris, who attained the mandatory
35 years in service, were duely retired in 2018.
Among them are the former
Commissioner of Police in charge of Special Fraud Unit, Lagos, Kola Shodipo;
former Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, Austin Iwar; CP Isaac Eke, and
Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinwuba Isiakpuna.
A course mate of IGP Idris, who
earlier rose to the position of IGP and was retired by former President
Goodluck Jonathan, was Suleiman Abbah.
The Police Council made up of the
36 state governors, chaired by the President, is supposed to confirm a new
Inspector General of Police if and when a new one is chosen by the President.
Meanwhile, the Network on Police
Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN, comprising 46 civil society organisations spread
across the country, stated that Idris only sees his job and role as that of
protecting the interest of President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All
progressives Congress, APC.
It pointed out that the constant
harassment, intimidation and victimisation of political opponents and critical
voices attested to its claim.
National Coordinator of the
network, Okechukwu Nwaguma, therefore, appealed to the President to prioritise
national security and national interest above selfish, narrow or partisan
interest, by appointing a new IGP, in order to redeem the battered image and
restore the lost pride of the Nigeria Police.
He said: “Now that the IGP’s
tenure has lapsed this January, President Buhari should immediately convene the
Police Council to select and nominate for Senate approval- as required by the
constitution, a competent and qualified senior officer with requisite
professional, leadership and managerial competence and integrity as the new
IGP.
“It is bad enough that the
President has ignored calls to sack the IGP on account of his incompetence and
the serial scandalous allegations hanging on his neck. But it will be a tragedy
if the President takes the joke too far by deciding to succumb to partisan
pressure to extend the tenure of this same failed IGP after he has served out
his lawful term on account of age and/or length of service.
“We witnessed in 2018 the arrest
and detention at the Force Headquarters of a Premium Times reporter who was
eventually charged to court maliciously and on frivolous charges, for refusing
to disclose his source of information.
“We also witnessed in December
2018 the arrest and detention of Mr. Deji Adeyanju, Civil Rights Activist and
Social Critic, by the Nigeria Police Force which eventually took him to Kano on
Tuesday, December 18, 2018, where he was charged and remanded in prison for an
offence he allegedly committed in 2009 which had been decided already by the
court which discharged and acquitted him.
“Now, we are witnessing the
shameless police siege on Melaye’s residence on the orders of an IGP under
whose command the same police has not only exhibited a pathetic lack of
capacity to confront criminals but has even suffered enormous casualties in the
line of duty. This siege is the culmination of a running battle between the
police and Melaye which has a clear political undertone.
“In a civilized, democratic
clime, where the rule of law reigns, guides and regulates the conduct of
government, the continued show of shame of the unrestrained siege on the
residence of Senator Dino Melaye by the police would not be tolerated.
“The further invasion of Melaye’s
family life and privacy and the violation of his right to human dignity ought
to have embarrassed a responsible government.
“Unfortunately, the Inspector
General of Police is emboldened to continue to engage in his serial abuse of
power and barefaced partisan displays by the silence of the President who ought
to call him to order but has failed to do so.
“The Inspector General of Police,
Idris, probably embarked on this latest show of shame, the prolonged
unjustifiable siege on Melaye’s residence, just to underscore his partisan
loyalty at the twilight of his tenure and impress and remind the President to
extend his expired tenure.”
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