January 18, 2009
PRESS RELEASERecently, the Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame held an interactive meeting with Senior Police Officers from all formations across the country at the Force Headquarters during which he unfolded the Ministry’s plans and vision for the reformation of the Nigeria Police.
At the meeting, a lot of issues were thrown up, especially during the Minister’s interaction with the Media. Expectedly, the issue of the recent dismissal of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu by the Police Service Commission came up as a journalist wanted to know government position on it.
Media reports on the meeting has since then elicited some negative reactions from certain individuals and organizations, one of which calls itself the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria. The organization in a statement accused the Minister of ” arrogating to himself the powers to deny Ribadu the right to seek judicial remedy for his dismissal by the Police Service Commission, and to preclude any other authourity in Nigeria, including the judiciary, from inquiring into the process that led to his dismissal for which he has gone to court” .
It is on record that Dr Lame, in his discussion with the Officers and the media men on all the issues, never for once mentioned Nuhu Ribadu or particularly referred to his case. Rather, he dwelled on the issue of discipline in the Police Force. As he said, the Police is an organization built on discipline and that the federal government would not tolerate anything that compromises discipline in the Force and capable of causing disharmony within its hierarchy.
While the media are at liberty to interpret this in whatever way they understand, it is wrong to insinuate that the Minister’s comments were prejudicial to Nuhu Ribadu’s case which is pending in court. The issue of discipline in the Nigeria Police is beyond the person of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and indeed, any individual for that matter.
The mandate of the Ministry of Police Affairs is to administer the Nigeria Police in such a manner that it operates at the highest level of professionalism, dedication and discipline to ensure public safety and internal security of the country. It also includes the provision of political will and administrative support for Nigeria Police to operate as an efficient, well motivated, well equipped and people-friendly Police. It does not include the appointment, promotion and dismissal of officers.
It is therefore uncharitable for anybody or group to accuse the Minister of planning to undermine a court order, which is yet to be given and which he is not in any position to do anyway. For the avoidance of doubt, only the Police Service Commission is statutorily empowered to handle such matters.
The Minister of Police Affairs is a firm believer in the Rule of Law and so would not delve into an issue that is before the courts. What he did at the meeting was to tell the officers that while the federal government would go the extra mile to turn around the fortunes of the Police, the issue of discipline will not be compromised.
The Ministry under Dr Ibrahim Lame is poised, with the avowed cooperation of the Management of the Force, to bequeath to the country, a Police Force that is efficient, trustworthy and self-confident through the provision of state- of- the- art equipment, training and welfare packages.
James Odaudu
Press Secretary
18th January 2009.
MINISTRY OF POLICE AFFAIRS
FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX, PHASE 3,
MAITAMA, ABUJA.
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