IGP withdraws senior police officers from EFCC
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali, has ordered an immediate withdrawal of senior police officers attached to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This announcement was seen by Nigerians as a beginning of enmity between the Nigerian police force and the EFCC.
A letter was sent to the head of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, by the IGP on the 15th of April to release all senior officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), and above, attached to the commission.
The letter which was signed by Idowu Omohunwa, a Principal Staff Officer and an acting commissioner of Police cited “the current operational requirements” as the reason for the withdrawal of the police officers.
The correspondence (with reference number, CB: 3380/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.3/547) which was said to have been received with “shock” by the commission, also directed the affected officers to report to Mr Owohunwa by 10a.m. on Wednesday “for further instructions.”
“I write to extend the warmest regards of the Inspector General of Police and to inform the Chairman that the Inspector General of Police has directed the withdrawal of all Senior Police Officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and above attached to your agency”.
“This decision is informed by the current operational requirements of the Force. You are accordingly requested to kindly direct the immediate release of the concerned Officers who are to collectively report to the undersigned on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 1000hrs for further instructions,”
the IGP also requested the EFCC head to “avail this office (IGP office) the comprehensive nominal roll of all police personnel attached to the EFCC to include their date of transfer and designations in the agency for the purpose of updating our records.”
About 25 CSPs performing crucial operational roles at the EFCC are affected by the IGP’s directive which is bound to have an immediate negative impact on the commission’s operations.
This development is coming not less than two months after Mr Bawa was appointed EFCC head and less than two weeks after Mr Alkali was appointed Acting IGP. Mr Bawa is the first head of the EFCC without policing background. All former EFCC chairpersons had policing background.
The EFCC is said to be shocked about the announcement from the IGP. The development came at a time when it has yet to take full benefit of the resources it expended on training the officers.
“These are officers holding crucial positions at the EFCC. A lot of resources have been expended on them to train them to work for the commission, and the commission has not taken full benefit of its investment on them”.
“They are sectional heads in the commission with many detectives under them receiving training from them. Some of them are even currently handling crucial national assignments on behalf of the commission. This is going to create a wide gap within the commission”.
