Why Ribadu Must Go For Training - IGP
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IGP Mike Okiro |
The Police high command yesterday explained that the nomination of Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for a training programme at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) was not aimed at forestalling the prosecution of high profile corrupt public officers.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP), MR. Mike Okiro, who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Abuja stressed that the nomination was a routine training programme fashioned out for certain category of public servants, aimed at improving their level of professional proficiency.
He debunked claims in some quarters that it was a witch hunt aimed at crippling Ribadu and having a less aggressive personality at the helm of affairs of the EFCC and eventually stop the arrest and prosecution of the former state governors who had already been declared corrupt by the commission.
Okiro said the claim that he was part of a high profile plot aimed at halting the on-going arrest and investigation of corrupt public officials, “is unfounded, and a calculated attempt to smear my good name and reputation, built over the years as portray the Nigeria Police in bad light”.
He said he is neither a politician nor an interested party in any corrupt investigation and therefore would not benefit in any way directly if their investigation, which is not the case is stopped.
“I wish to make it clear that sending eligible officers on course is a normal routine in every service, the police inclusive. Sending police officers on such courses is for their own advantage, development and for the benefit of the force.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the criteria for sending officers on course as contained in NIPSS guidelines which the police are following are as follows:
· the officer must not be less than 40 years of age;
· the officer must be a graduate from a recognized university to cope with the academic load;
· the officer must have more than five years to retire from service;
· the officer must not be less than a Permanent Secretary in the state civil service or a Director in the federal civil service or a Colonel in the military or its equivalent in the Para-military services”
The police boss explaining further said seven officers from the police have been slated to attend the forthcoming NIPSS course “and AIG Nuhu Ribadu is th second on the list based on seniority and the above guidelines, hence he is nominated to attend the course.
“He is not being sent on course for any other ulterior motive than the reasons stated above, which he satisfies. He is not being sent to NIPSS on the prompting of any external body or bodies.
“This will not stop the anti-corruption campaign which EFCC is fighting. It will rather help him perform better. There should be no hue and cry about this. The essence is to develop him and also help the force,” Okiro stressed.
Sources at the Force headquarters told our reporter that Ribadu, contrary to reports had not attended any qualifying courses which were pre-requisites to promotion to even the rank of a commissioner of police, not to talk of being elevated to the rank of an AIG.
The sources said that under normal circumstances, Ribadu would at best remain as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and did not qualify to wear his current rank, since he is still a serving police officer.
“If the argument is that he is not a police officer currently, then, why did he come here to receive his pips the time he was elevated. He remains a police officer and therefore is susceptible to all the rules and regulations contained in the Police Order Act.
“He can not do otherwise as doing so or engaging in subtle media campaign the way it is being done is not in the interest of the country and he knows it that is why he can not come out and insult his boss the IGP,” the sources stressed.