NPF Promotion: Magu Laughs Last

By Stephen Ubanna

For months, there had been rumours making the rounds that Ibrahim Magu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  may be promoted to enviable rank of Commissioner of Police by the Police Service Commission, PSC.

The rumour became pronounced as he got the nod to appear before the Commission interview panel. There was the initial  fears being expressed in several quarters that the tough Corp heading the EFFC may have a tough time scaling through  the promotion hurdle  because he had stepped on many powerful toes in the country  including members of the hallowed Chamber, the Senate, who might want to use their position to put in one or two words against him to scuttle the promotion.

Unknown to the pundits, the Mike Okiro led PSC was an unbiased umpire in the discharge of its Constitutional responsibilities which include police recruitment , promotion, discipline and retirement of  officers.  ”There is nothing like wit hunting  in the Commission” an officer remarked.

The officer had disclosed that matters of recruitment , promotion or applying disciplinary measures to  officers found wanting  were treated on their merit.  There  have been instance  officers wrongly dismissed or downgraded  have been recalled or restored back to their old rank by the Commission.

indeed, the assurance by some of  his Colleagues who had appeared before the  interviewers without any hope of making it were said to have   come out from  the  Commission office Complex  smiling and feeling fulfilled  because of the friendly disposition of the interviewers.\

This may have given hope to Magu, the embattled acting EFCC boss that he could make it to the next rank of Commissioner of Police, CP. He got it right. He passed the interview and was promoted.

A Statement released on Friday, April20, 2018, by Ikechukwu, Ani, the Commission Image  maker confirmed that  the EFFC boss,  and 17 other senior officers were promoted by the Commission. Ani said  the  Commission  approved the promotion  of the officers at its meeting  which was held  in Abuja.

The Source learnt that as soon as information filtered out about the promotion of the EFCC boss to rank of CP, there was spontaneous jubilation in the antigraft agency.  A source disclosed that friends and close associates of the acting EFCC Chairman sent words of greetings to him, with words of advice to justify the Confidence   reposed on him  by the Commission to earn the promotion.   The Staff of the Commission were not left out  as they called at his office in groups to congratulate  and savour that moment of joy with him.

There are indications t in both official and unofficial quarters that Magu may lose his official position by virtue of the promotion as it has been  allegedly  confirmed by sources in Force Headquarters, Abuja. The sources disclosed that he  had been penciled down as one of the  senior Police officers going to Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies , Kuru, Plateau state, for studies, that could take him out the  agency for one year.

The Course  may save the one year-old crisis of Confidence between  the Senate and President Muhammadu Buhari over the continued retention of the acting EFCC boss in office despite  their opposition. It would be recalled that the pioneer, EFCC , Chairman,  Nuhu Ribadu, was promoted to the enviable rank of Commissioner of Police and sent to NIPS, and later promoted to AIG, and retired. Nigerians are watching what is most likely going to happen to Magu after the planned one year programme in NIPS is over: Will he be promoted to the next police rank of AIG?

The implication of the Kuru Course is that another Deputy Commissioner of Police may be warming up to replace him soon at  the Commission, on the recommendation of the President to the Senate for endorsement.

Ani in the Statement  alsodisclosed that Ebere Onyeagoro and Moshood .O. Gbolarumi, both DCP in-charge of Aministration , Kaduna state Police Command and Maritime, Lagos respectively were also promoted to the Commissioner of Police rank by the Commission.

The  two lucky Comptroller who got the  Presidential nod  to be elevated to the elitist  rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG,  were  Agboola Oshodi-Glover, CP, Administration, Force Headquarters and Peace Abdallah, ,Police Intelligence bureau.  That much was confirmed by Ani, the PSC, Image maker.

But one  officer whose promotion   was greeted by wide applause was that of Abba Kyari, from the rank of a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP,  to an Assist Commissioner of Police, ACP. The Special promotion for Kyari and his 21-member team from the PSC had long been expected.

It was learnt  that Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, had recommended to the Commission that the  former CSP Kyari  and the 21 officers in the who arrested the most wanted kidnap kingpin Chukwudumuje Onooamadike alias  Evans,   in Lagos last year be given Special promotion  as a way of encouraging  other officers on special police assignments to sit up.

The arrest of the notorious kidnapper, by Kyari  and his team may have brought a respite to many Ibo socialites in Lagos who were afraid of travelling to the east for fear of  Evans. The Evans, kidnap gang , according police sources were not only terrorizing the rich from the east but the affluent from other states, who could afford to pay the ramsome that may be demanded to regain their freedom. he had always had his way until CSP Kyari was given the assignment by the then Lagos state Commissioner of Police  to capture him alive or dead. The CSP , who is used to such  assignments was said to have mobilized all contacts and with credible intelligence were on his trail  until he was finally caught n his  palatial home in Lagos with little or no resistance from his gang.