Posted by chris agbambu on
The confirmation of Acting Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero to the substantive rank of IGP, is being stalled following interests from certain quarters, Saturday Independent, has learnt.
The confirmation of Acting Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero to the substantive rank of IGP, is being stalled following interests from certain quarters, Saturday Independent, has learnt.
Ehindero was named the 22nd IGP in January this year, following the compulsory retirement of erstwhile IGP, Tafa Balogun over allegations of money laundering, theft and gratification for which he is currently standing trial before an Abuja High Court.
Hopes of his early confirmation have continued to diminish by the day following revelations that some powerful personalities, including Balogun have stoutly put a wedge on Ehindero's confirmation. Having acted for six months, Ehindero is supposed to have been confirmed but this has not been the case.
Though, those standing in-between Ehindero's confirmation have not publicly declared their grouse with him, it was gathered that the former IGP, Tafa Balogun has alleged that the Acting IGP is not a man to be trusted.
Informed sources told Saturday Independent that trouble between the two started in December last year when Balogun travelled on an official assignment to Canada and France. During the period, the President was said to have invited Ehindero, then a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) to the villa, to find out the goings on in the force.
The Acting IGP reportedly opened up a can of worms, chronicling the alleged atrocities of Balogun.
It was at this stage that the relationship between both officers went sour and soon after Balogun's return from his foreign trip, he summoned his management team for a meeting.
At the meeting, it was alleged that Balogun made it clear to Ehindero that if he, (Ehindero), thought of ever becoming the IGP, he was merely daydreaming as he would ensure that all of them go at the same time.
Balogun may have kept to this promise even after his exit from office.
According to sources, an opportunity to confirm Ehindero came two weeks ago when the Police Council, comprising all the 36 governors met but the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke scuttled the move alleging that Ehindero was breaching the Constitution.
According to the sources, Okeke had alleged that the Acting IGP, was carrying out promotions in the police without recourse to the Commission an act he said was against the Constitution and accordingly maintained that it would be wrong to confirm Ehindero.
Saturday Independent further gathered that some members of the Police Council, who had expected the issue to be deliberated upon, were shocked as the President never put it into reckoning.
Also, it was alleged that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu might be against Ehindero's confirmation on the grounds that the Acting IGP knew all the atrocities committed by his predecessor but failed to raise alarm.
It was gathered that the President had at an informal forum asked the EFCC boss whether Ehindero should be confirmed but the latter was said to have answered in the negative.
For now, opinions are divided on the issue as some top government officials are of the view that Ehindero should be confirmed having performed well in his acting capacity. Whether confirmed or not, Ehindero is expected to proceed on his terminal leave in December 2005