Okiro Out, Musiliu Smith In

BY SHOLA OSHUNKEYE

Barring any odd, former Inspector General of Police, IGP, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, is set to replace Mike Okiro, another retired IGP, as Chairman of the Nigerian Police Service Commission, PSC.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who made the appointment, conveyed his decision to the Senate via a letter he sent to the red chamber, and was read at Thursday’s plenary by Dr. Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate.

Other prominent Nigerians nominated by the President to serve as members of the PSC are: Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (North East), retired AIG Lawal Bawa (North West) and Mohammed Najatu (North West).

Other are: Braimoh Austin (South South), Barrister Rommy Mom (North Central) and Dr. Nkemka Jombo-Ofo (South East).

It was not clear at the time of filing this report on Thursday how the intransigence and seeming disrespect of the incumbent Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris Kpotum, will affect the vetting of the PSC nominees by the Senate.

Thrice, Idris had rebuffed Senate invitation to come and brief the upper legislative house on the unrelenting killings across the country and what the force was doing to curtail the bloodshed.

Had he appeared, he might have also been asked questions on the travails of Dino Melaye, the embattled Senator representing Kogi West, still recuperating after jumping off a speeding police vehicle while being conveyed to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, to answer charges.

The Police had accused Melaye of conspiring with and, indeed, sponsoring as well as arming and funding some criminals to wreak havoc in Kogi State, an allegation the senator has consistently denied, accusing Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, of being the mastermind of his travails.

The IGP was invited in April. He didn’t turn up. Instead, he sent a Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG. But the Senate refused to entertain the DIG. Rather, the upper chamber extended another invitation to him for May 2, 2018. He also didn’t turn up.

Later, the IGP was to tell the nation, through the Force PRO, Jimoh Moshood, that he was not obliged to personally appear on the matter.

In a statement issued by the police spokesman, the force said: “The Nigeria Police Force is a law abiding organization and holds the Senate and its leadership in high esteem. However, the Force wishes to impress on the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to personalise or trivialise the criminal offenses (Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms and other sundry offenses) indicting Sen. Dino Melaye from confessions of two (2) suspected kidnappers and Armed Robbers namely: Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama and Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small; but should allow the rule of law and justice to prevail.

Moshood, who said his boss delegated the DIG to represent him because he was on official assignment to Bauchi State where President Muhammadu Buhari was visiting, continued:

“The functions, duties and responsibilities of the Inspector General of Police as listed in Section 215 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can also be carried out as mentioned in section 312 (1) of the Police Act and Regulation by a senior officer of the Force of the Rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police and Assistant Inspector General of Police who if permitted by the Inspector General of Police to act on his behalf or represent him in official capacity at any function, event or programme within and outside Nigeria can do so in consonant with the provisions of the Police Act and Regulation.

“It is on the basis of the above that while the Inspector General of Police is on an official assignment in Bauchi State that he delegated the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations to represent him and honour the invitation of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria in respect of the felonious offenses for which Sen. Dino Melaye was taken into Police custody, investigated and to be arraigned in the Federal High Court, Lokoja without further delay.

“Consequently, the general public are hereby implored to note that the Inspector General of Police acted rightly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Police Act and Regulation and other extant laws by delegating the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations to represent him at the Senate, National Assembly today 26th April, 2018 to present the Police report, actions and findings in a case of Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms and other sundry offenses indicting Senator Dino Melaye.”

The Idris albatross may well be the first puzzle the incoming Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, would have to solve.