Name seven AIGs, promote EFCC boss
HIS past and present misdeeds came into reckoning yesterday as the Police Service Commission (PSC) reviewed his activities in the security agency.
The conclusion was that embattled Commissioner of Police, Hassan Zakari Biu, had not demonstrated enough loyalty to the state and to the police in the performance of his duties.
If his past disturbing actions and inactions could be ignored, PSC said Biu’s role in the escape of Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto Umar from detention was unpardonable.
It therefore approved Biu’s immediate dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force over the Kabir Sokoto’s saga.
In a statement, which the commission issued after a meeting called to determine Biu’s fate, which was made available to The Guardian in Abuja, PSC said the decision to fire the police officer was taken at its 26th plenary meeting, which found Biu wanting in the allegations made against him.
The commission’s dismissal of Biu yesterday came less than two month after it promoted him, as commissioner.
Before yesterday, Biu had been placed under house arrest and on suspension. But for his dismissal, Biu would have retired from the police this month.
The statement signed by Ferdinand Ekpe on behalf of the PSC said the commission took the decision in line with its constitutional mandate, and after deliberating on other issues.
He said: “The meeting which was presided over by retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Mr. Parry Osayande, chairman of the commission, took far-reaching decisions aimed at repositioning the Nigeria Police Force for effective service delivery to the Nigerian nation.
“The commission, after due consideration of the role played by Commissioner of Police, Hassan Zakari Biu, in the escape of the Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, today (yesterday), February 22, 2012, approved the dismissal of Mr. Hassan Zakari Biu from the Nigeria Police Force with effect from February 22, 2012.”
The commission however approved the appointment of seven Deputy-Inspectors General of Police. They are Suleiman Dauda Fakai, Atiku Yusufu Kafur, Emmanuel Kachi Udeoji, Haruna John, Peter Yisa Gana, Marvel Akpoyibo, and Abdurahaman Akano.
The commission also confirmed the promotion of 13 Commissioners of Police to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police. They are Solomon Olusegun, Michael Zuokumor, Orubebe Gandhi Ebikeme, Philemon Leha, Jonathan Johnson, Dan’azumi Job Doma, Joseph Ibi Muktari Ibrahim, Suleiman Abba, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, Saliu Argungu Hashimu, Solomon Arase and David Omojola. .
Also, the Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde was promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Osayande called on all police personnel to rise to the security challenges confronting the nation as the commission would not hesitate to sanction anyone, who would not put in their best towards the furtherance of the police reform. When the stories of Biu’s return to the police broke out, many Nigerians were shocked that he was still in the force.
Biu, who had just been promoted Commissioner of Police when the Sokoto’s incident broke out over the latter’s involvement in the Christmas Day bombing in Madalla, Niger State where over 40 people died, had been linked with a lot controversies.
The dismissed commissioner, who was in charge of terrorism, was until this year a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). The immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim recommended him to the PSC for promotion to Commissioner of Police. The PSC, after its 25th plenary meeting, approved Ringim’s recommendation. The commission approved Biu’s promotion from last December 15.
His critics and victims during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, believe that nemesis had caught up with him.
As head of the regime’s Presidential Task Force on Terrorism, Biu terrorised journalists and human rights activists, who he labelled “terrorists.”
Journalists on the stables of The News, TSM and Tell were the worse hit. The publisher of the now rested TSM, Chris Anyanwu, who is now a senator, narrated how Biu physically assaulted her and practically got her eyes permanently impaired.
The Borno-born cop is also criticised over the death of a reporter with The News, Bagauda Kaltho. Biu claimed Kaltho was trying to detonate a bomb in a hotel and got killed in the process. Kaltho’s widow was also tricked by Biu to reveal information about Independent Communications Nigeria Limited (ICNL), publishers of The News on the pretext of reuniting her with her husband. It turned out he only deceived the woman, as he used the information to invade the magazine’s offices, carting away its property.
