Posted by By MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja on
The police high command explained on Thursday, 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.
The police high command explained on Thursday, 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), Mike Okiro, who spoke with newsmen 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 and 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 in their investigation.
According to him, "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."
Okiro said seven officers from the police have been slated to attend the forthcoming NIPSS course 'and AIG Nuhu Ribadu is the second on the list based on seniority and the above guidelines, hence Ribadu was nominated to attend the course."
His words: "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."
Sources at the Force headquarters, told our reporters that contrary to reports, Ribadu, had not attended any qualifying course, which are pre-requisites to promotion to the rank of a commissioner of police and above.