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news
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WITHDRAWAL OF POLICE ORDERLIESFG Makes
U-Turn ...Restores Judges, Legislators
Police Orderlies |
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Written by Suleiman M. Bisalla
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Sunday Trust
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Sunday, 29 March 2009 |
The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu
Lame, has said that the directive given to the
Nigeria Police Force by the Federal Executive
Council (FEC) to withdraw policemen attached to
individuals as guards does not affect judges and
legislators.
A statement signed by the Press Secretary to the
Minister, James Odaudu, said the directive was for
the immediate withdrawal of all police officers and
men attached to private individuals and
organisations without due authorisation. He said it
did not affect those approved by the Inspector
General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro, such as
policemen attached to judges, legislators and those
in the executive arm of government.
"It is important to note that this directive does
not involve persons in positions in the judiciary,
legislative or executive arms of government. These
category of officials should continue to retain
their orderlies, if such orderlies were duly and
officially attached to them. All police officers not
officially attached to persons with whom they are
currently performing such duties have been directed,
in their own interest, to return to their respective
commands immediately," the statement said.
The statement further said: "The position of
government is that it frowns seriously at
indiscriminate and unauthorized use of police
officers and men being attached to private
individuals in the society. It is quite disgraceful
to see police officers and men performing demeaning
and unethical jobs for their principals. This is
identified as one of the major factors that debase
the professional values and ethics of the Nigeria
Police Force. It also undermines discipline and
provides cover to criminals to shield their
nefarious activities and even to commit unpardonable
and unforgiving crimes against the society." The
statement said only those approved by the IGP should
be given Police escorts or orderlies, while stern
disciplinary measures would be taken against erring
officers and men on such unapproved duties.
Since the announcement by the Minister of
Information and Communication, Professor Dora
Akunyili last Wednesday after the Federal Executive
Council (FEC), a cross-section of Nigerians and
institutions, like the Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), Action Congress (AC), and the National
Assembly have criticised the move.
When our reporter called the Nigeria Police Force
spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, on the backpedalling by
government on the withdrawal of police orderlies, he
said, the directive was subject to review.
“The directive may be reviewed by the IG,” he told
Sunday Trust. “It is the IG’s prerogative to give
police orderlies, so the withdrawal may be looked
into further.”
But he could not confirm if the Police Minister’s
statement, reversing the withdrawal of orderlies,
was done in agreement with the Police Inspector
General.
Meanwhile, commenting on the development a one-time
president of the Nigerian Barr Association (NBA),
Mr. Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said there was no need for
the Federal Government to overheat the polity on the
matter in the first place.
According to him, it is a universal practice for
judges and magistrates to move with police orderlies
that will shield them from terrorism, abduction and
harassment since they handle cases involving
dangerous criminals.
“It shows that government has listened to public
opinion on the matter. All over the world, judges
and magistrates move about with police orderlies, so
they should stop unnecessarily overheating of the
polity,” he said.
He recalled that when he served as president of the
NBA, the same issue was contemplated and the NBA met
with the Inspector General of Police, who said it
was an order from above. “But we met with the
president then and it was jettisoned,” the senior
advocate said.
Olanipekun cited the example of the way one-time
Chief Judge of Ondo State who was attacked in Ado
Ekiti by a robber he convicted years back. The judge
had taken shelter somewhere and asked his driver and
orderly to go and refuel his car at a time fuel was
scarce in the country.
“While the judge was standing, a man approached him
and asked whether he (the judge) could recognise
him. The judge said no, and he (the ex-convict)
reminded him that he had convicted him, and he
eventually robbed the judge. If the orderly were
around, it wouldn’t have happened,” he said.
In his reaction, the chairman House of
Representatives Committee on Media, Rep. Eseme Eyibo
, lauded the decision of the federal government to
make a U-turn on the matter. According to him,
government policies were not cast in iron and
therefore were subject to reviews based on needs.
It would be recalled that the House of
Representatives had vehemently opposed the planned
withdrawal of police orderlies from judicial
officers and lawmakers.
The House’ spokesman said rescinding the decision
was the right thing to do because any policy that is
counter-productive required change or adjustment.
“They are at liberty to do some amendments for such
policies to be productive and acceptable to
Nigerians,” the lawmaker said. |
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