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Tag: IGP

  • How new IGP, Adamu stopped Imohimi’s redeployment from Lagos

    How new IGP, Adamu stopped Imohimi’s redeployment from Lagos

    Facts have emerged on how the new Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu stopped the redeployment of the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi out of the state.

    Former IGP Ibrahim Idris had redeployed Imohimi out of Lagos, and brought in Kayode Egbetokun as his replacement, but on his retirement on Tuesday, the new IGP stopped the redeployment.

    A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Chike Oti said Imohimi is fully in charge as CP in Lagos, based on the order of the IGP.

    “The Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the Inspector General of Police has graciously suspended the planned redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, from the command.

    “The IGP, in his wisdom, said the status quo should be maintained. The CP, who is well known for his discipline and respect for orders, was about handing over to Mr Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday when he received the directive to suspend the ceremony and await further instructions,” he said.

    Oti said the Police Command thought it necessary to inform the people of Lagos that Imohimi, going by this development, remained the head of the police in the state.

    “While humbled by the decision, the CP wishes to assure the people of Lagos that their safety and security remains his priority,” he said.

  • Retirement: Buhari, IGP meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started around 4.30p.m when the President returned to the seat of power after attending a function at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

    A similar meeting was also held on Friday 4th of January, 2019 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 the 15th of January, 2019.

    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.

    While there are filers that the president might extend the IG’s tenure, politicians across party lines have kicked against such. They insisted that the IG must step aside for the next most qualified officer.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

  • Tenure extension: 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.

    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.

     

  • Siege on Melaye’s residence: Ibrahim Idris is Nigeria’s most partisan Police IG – Saraki

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has lashed out at the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over the latest attempt to arrest a senator, Dino Melaye.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the invasion of the Abuja home of the senator as another instance of police being used to suppress the rights of the citizenry and silencing people with opposing views to the current administration.

    Recall that the Police on Friday laid siege to the house of the lawmaker in a bid to arrest him saying the senator was wanted for his alleged involvement in an attack on a police officer in June.

    While the siege was on, Melaye told reporters he was out of the city but was monitoring the situation. But the police believed that he was hiding somewhere in the building.

    Saraki in a statement on Saturday said the timing of the invasion and the desperate attempt to arrest the senator was suspicious as the lawmaker had raised an alarm a few days earlier that there was a plan by the police to get hold of him and harm him, an allegation that was denied by the police.

    He noted that the conduct of the police at the property, in interfering with power and water supply, manhandling domestic staff and disturbing peace in the neighborhood was unacceptable.

    The Senate President said he believed the police were resolute in keeping the senator out of public ahead of 2019 elections.

    He added that there was no formal request to the Clerk to the National Assembly for the arrest of Mr Melaye as claimed by the police.

    “The general belief now is that the Police action against Senator Melaye was aimed at keeping him out of circulation so that he would not participate in the general elections coming in February. The manner of invasion on his house is highly suspicious. This same man has been charged with sundry and needless allegations and he has attended the various court sessions. He is also a candidate in the coming elections and therefore has no reason to run away from the country.

    “He was also present in the Senate for plenary, committee meetings and oversight functions till the Senate went on recess on December 20, 2018. Though the police in their statement claim that there was a request to the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA) inviting Senator Melaye to report to the police, my enquiry from the CNA showed that he had no such letter.

    “If there was an offence allegedly committed in July and the police waited till now, we do not see the urgency in the need to arrest him about six weeks to the election in which he is a candidate. He could have been invited to report to the police on Monday. This desperation to haul him in is beyond normal. This same IGP who refused to honour the invitation of the Senate for him to give information on the security situation in the country and rushed to the court to seek protection of his rights is now violating the rights of other people. In the same manner, a Senate resolution to the effect that his security personnel that were withdrawn should be reinstated has not been obeyed.”

    Saraki accused the police of partisanship as no member of opposition is experiencing such treatment.

    He also described the police boss as the most partisan individual to have headed the force.

    “It has not gone without notice that Senator Melaye is a member of the opposition. We cannot remember any member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) being treated in this manner. Even the one who allegedly led thugs to forcefully seize the mace while Senate was in session, in the full glare of television camera, is still roaming the streets free without prosecution.

    “This method of digging out some old charges and allegations to arrest and incarcerate political opponents has presented this current Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, as the most partisan head of the Nigerian Police ever in the history of this country. We have continued to call on the security agencies to steer clear of partisanship and be professional in their activities.

    “This country is not a banana country. Nobody is saying the police should not do their work in the prevention of crime and enforcement of laws. However, a pattern of creating trumped up charges, implicating those who have contrary views to the administration and employing crude tactics under the pretext of enforcing laws is unacceptable to us. It is not because Senator Melaye is the victim this time around. This should not happen to any Nigerian.

    “We are disturbed that the administration remains nonchalant about this negative development by claiming that these excesses and anti-democratic activities of the police are proper and normal and that they do not want to interfere with the work of the law enforcement agents, but we all know these oppressive tactics of the police have something to do with the coming Polls.

    “The Police cannot act outside the law of the land. They should not be infringing on the rights of people. They should not be oppressing the people and they should not be adopting extra-legal measures under the guise of enforcing law. They should vacate Senator Melaye’s house immediately, release the innocent domestic staff in his house who cannot be said to have committed any offence, stop the interference with utility services in his house and ensure that all their actions are within the ambit of the law,” Mr Saraki was quoted by the statement as saying.

  • IGP planning to arrest, inject me to death – Melaye

    Senator Representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye has alleged that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris is planning to arrest and inject him to death with a deadly substance.

    Melaye made the claim in a tweet posted on his official twitter handling alleging that those to carry out the plan had already been deployed to the State.

    According to the Senator, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police and personnel had been redeployed from the State.

    “There is a plan by the IG to arrest me today and inject me to death. Men deployed already. CP kogi and others removed. Nigerians watch out” the Senator tweeted.

    Details later…

     

  • Order IGP to release Deji Adeyanju unconditionally, Saraki tells Buhari

    Order IGP to release Deji Adeyanju unconditionally, Saraki tells Buhari

    Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the release of social critic, Mr. Deji Adeyanju and ensure that his fundamental human rights are not continuously abused by the Police, because according to him, the case is more political than judicial.

    Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu noted that the Adeyanju case is presenting the present administration in bad light as a government that is intolerant of criticism and suppressing views of the opposition.

    He stated that a situation where Adeyanju was arrested after leading a protest in Abuja and sundry charges were filed against him while he was re-arrested after being given bail by a court indicated a deliberate attempt to get him out of circulation.

    The Senate President said the reports on the Adeyanju case were giving the present administration a bad name and indicating that dictatorial tendencies are becoming rife in a democratic country.

    “The way the matter has been handled and the last decision of the Magistrate Court to remand the young man in prison till after the conclusion of the 2019 Polls has presented our democracy in bad light. We are now looking like a country that has receded to the period of military rule.

    “The President needs to intervene to find out whether the current travail of Deji Adeyanju has anything to do with his frequently expressed viewpoints against the Federal Government and why his arrest after leading a protest has now ignited all the various charges being filed against him and if it was true that the charges for which he has been remanded in prison till February had actually being adjudicated upon by the High Court.

    “It should be noted that prior to the coming to office of this government, those of us in opposition, the APC, freely criticized the Goodluck Jonathan government and flayed their actions and statements without any attempt by the administration to stifle opposing views. This administration which benefitted from such open market place of ideas, which is a key tenet of a democratic regime, cannot offer anything less to our people.

    “At this point, President Buhari should not allow the excesses and over-zealousness of some security agents to give his government a bad name and that is why I think he should interfere and let the world know the truth about this case. It is obvious that this case is purely political and not about any judicial action. I also call on all human rights protection groups to wade into this matter and ensure we do not watch helplessly as the rights of a citizen is being trampled upon”, Saraki stated.

     

  • 2019: Political parties reject Buhari’s plan to extend IGP’s tenure for six months

    Indications have emerged that President Muhammadu Buhari may have approved a six-month tenure extension for the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

    Officially, Idris is due to retire from the Nigeria Police Force on January 3, 2019, having put in the mandatory 35 years in service. But he was said to have lobbied some senior Presidency functionaries, who, in turn, got Buhari to extend the IG’s tenure.

    However, the opposition political parties, under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), are threatening to drag President Muhammadu Buhari before the court over the planned tenure extension.

    The President was said to have agreed in principle to grant the IG additional six months in office to enable him to coordinate and supervise the forthcoming general elections in the country.

    A top source, who confirmed the development to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, explained that the IG might get the official confirmation of the tenure extension “any moment from now.”

    He said, “It is a done deal; the IG’s tenure has already been extended because the Presidency has confidence in him. He would get the official confirmation any moment from now; that is if he hasn’t received it already.

    “Extending the IG’s tenure is not unexpected. The other service chiefs had their tenure extended by a year. So, giving Idris the same privilege is nothing out of the ordinary.”

    Meanwhile, the planned extension of tenure, the CUPP claimed, would only afford the police boss the opportunity to do the President’s bidding and work for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.

    They have therefore resolved to resist the move, claiming the nation’s constitution does not make any provision for tenure extension.

    The first national spokesperson for the CUPP, Imo Ugochinyere, in an interview on Friday, said the opposition parties were shifting their attention to the leadership of the force following Buhari’s decision not to sign the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill and the inability of federal lawmakers to override his veto.

    He said, “We are insisting that the Inspector-General of Police, whose tenure is expiring in January, must leave the office.

    “So, we are demanding that the President should not extend his tenure because there is no such provision in the constitution. A former police officer cannot be an Inspector-General of Police. We will be filing an action in court to ensure that he leaves office in January.”

    Also, the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution has kicked against the alleged tenure elongation, noting that Idris had so far “demonstrated lack of capacity and inability to effectively police Nigeria as the IG.”

    The CDNDC Coordinator, Dare Atoye, argued that wanton killings and criminality had increased under Idris leadership of the police, adding that there were more competent officers in the NPF that could do the job better.

    He said, “The only good thing that can happen to the Nigeria police is for the government of President Buhari to look for a competent replacement; somebody who has the discipline and the character to lead the force. I believe many Nigerians would agree with me that the wanton killings in the country and the lack of training without equipment have been aggravated under his leadership.”

    Appraising the alleged reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, the activist observed that no reform had taken place, noting that the impunity being carried out by the squad was merely suppressed.

    He cited the arrest and arraignment of an Abuja-based activist, Deji Adeyanju, by the police for homicide, a charge for which he was discharged and acquitted by a Kano High Court in 2009.

    The Secretary-General, Basic Rights Enlightenment Foundation, Ikechukwu Maduike, also kicked against the government’s decision, stressing that “the police had become worse under the IG.”

    The lawyer said, “We need someone who has new ideas so we can see something new in the force. I don’t think this IG has what it takes to transform the police force.”

     

  • IGP Idris manipulated his retirement age – Sen. 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.”

  • Police promotion saga: Reps want IGP, PSC probed

    By Gabriel Okoro – Abuja

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday called for probe on the alleged promotion of police officers by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.

    The green chamber also want threat of demotion of the officers by the Police Service Commission be probed into.
    These decisions are sequel to a motion sponsored Mr. Frederick Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa) during plenary.
    Speaking about the motion, Mr. Agbedi revealed that the police boss has appointed and posted State Commissioners of Police and promoted some officers of the Force without recourse to the General Promotion Guidelines or the Police Service Commission, a development which the Commission frowned at.
    He further revealed that the IGP threatened to review those appointments and demote such officers.
    “Some of the benefiting officers who felt aggrieved by the decision of the Commission have threatened litigation if the said decision to demote them is carried out while those due, but denied promotion are also spoiling for action”, said the lawmaker.
    Mr. Agbedi explained that by virtue of the provision of Section 153(1) and paragraphs 30(a) and (b)of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) the power to appoint, promote, dismiss and dismiss and discipline officers of the Nigeria Police Force (other than the Inspector General of Police) falls within the exclusive purview of the Police Service Commission.
    He added that by virtue of provisions of Section 160(1) of the Constitution, the Police Service Commission is empowered to make rules to regulate its own procedures or confer power and impose duties on any officer or authority for the purpose of discharging its function and in the exercise of the powers, the Police Service Commission, in 2014, approved the General Promotion Guidelines for the promotion of officers.
    The motion was unanimously adopted by members when put to voice vote by Speaker Yakubu Dogara who presided.
    The House Committee on Police Affairs was therefore mandated to investigate and ascertain the propriety of the said appointment and promotions whether they were done in compliance with the provisions of Constitution and the General Promotion Guidelines of the Nigeria Police Force and report findings within eight weeks for further legislative action.

  • What we are doing to end Shiites’ protests, violence – IGP

    The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Wednesday promised to put an end to the protests by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria that has left some people dead and properties destroyed within the Federal Capital Territory.

    Idris made the promise in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after joining others to witness the inauguration of the 2019 Armed Forces Day Emblem at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    “We have made some major deployments, and all l can say is that we want to appeal to everybody to cooperate with us to end these crises and by the Grace of God, we will bring the protests to an end,” the police boss said.

    When asked why security agents resorted to the use of maximum force to quell the protests, Idris explained that “the agents were responding to the threats against the security of lives and property within the FCT. It is our responsibilities to take care of security.”

    The IGP gave an indication that about 400 members of the group who were arrested on Tuesday would appear in court on Wednesday.

    “You know that when we make arrests, the next thing is to take them before the law courts.

    “We are going to take them before the law court today (Wednesday). This could be the Magistrate’s Court or Federal High Court,” he said.

    Idris also said the Federal Government was not ruling out dialogue with stakeholders as one of the ways of ending the protests.

    “We are liaising with major stakeholders, major religious groups in this country.

    “I think we need to do something to end these crises as soon as possible and by the Grace of God we will end the crises soon,” he added.