Posted by Yusuf Alli,Tobi Soniyi and Olusola Fabiyi on
The aide-de-camp to the Vice-President, Abdul Yari Shuyan Lafia, a Chief Superintendent of Police, was on Thursday withdrawn and arrested on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, for security reasons.
The aide-de-camp to the Vice-President, Abdul Yari Shuyan Lafia, a Chief Superintendent of Police, was on Thursday withdrawn and arrested on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, for security reasons.
Lafia was the eight aide of the VP to be removed in the last two years.
The arrest of Lafia led to an uneasy calm among the remaining aides of the Vice-President.
A statement in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Haz Iwendi, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said the ADC was already being interrogated.
The statement read, 'As a result of cumulative security reports about the activities of the police ADC to the Vice-President, CSP Abdul Yari Shuyan Lafia, and after contact with the Vice-President, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, invited the ADC for questioning and interrogation.
'The Inspector-General has been instructed to give to the Vice-President, six names of police officers of equivalent rank out of which the Vice-President can choose a new ADC. In the alternative, the Vice-President can select any police officer of equivalent rank of his choice while CSP Lafia is being interrogated.
'The above actions are mainly Police routine procedures."
As at press time, the police had not mentioned the offence of the police officer.
It would be recalled that earlier this week the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested a top police officer in the Presidency on charges of corruption.
Some top police sources, however, told our correspondents that the ADC is suspected to have strong links with the Turaki Vanguard, a political group working for Atiku's presidential ambition.
The police authorities are also concerned about his remarkable prosperity.
The sources said the ADC was being detained at the Force headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.
A source close to the vice-president's office confirmed the political undertone behind the arrest of the ADC.
He said, 'The removal of the ADC has been an issue in the last three months.
'The whole thing started after President Olusegun Obasanjo accused the ADC of disloyalty. There was an attempt to remove the VP but both the National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gasau and the Chief of Staff to the President, Maj-Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed advised against it because it could send a wrong signal to the world on the VP's safety.
'The ADC was suspected of coordinating the activities of the Turaki Vanguard.
'The coordinator of the group is Lawal Abba from Kano State. There is however a suspicion that because Abba is a friend to the ADC, the police officer was financing the activities of Turaki Vanguard."
Our source alleged that Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State reported to the President that he was uncomfortable with the activities of the Turaki Vanguard in his state.
He said the governor was unhappy that the name of the ADC was a recurring factor in the activities of the group in his state.
Investigations by our correspondents revealed that the removal of the ADC had caused a panic among the aides of the vice-president.
A source at the office said, 'This is the eight aide to be sacked in the last two years. No one is sure of his job and we have to be loyal to the man we are serving."
Those previously removed by the President - who insists that there is only one Presidency - are the former Special Assistant Research and Communication Strategy, Dr. Adeolu Akande (August 2003); the Senior Special Assistant on Policy Monitoring, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire; and the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu (December 2003).
Others were the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo (April 2005); the Special Assistant, Special Duties, Maj-Gen. Jafar Isa; the Special Assistant, Special Duties, Mr. Shima Ayati; and the Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties, Mr. Chris Mamah (July 2005).
THE PUNCH, Wednesday, November 30, 2005