THE Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has condemned the removal of a former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase as the Chairman of Police Service Commission, PSC by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the action as provocative and disrespect for the rule of law.
In a statement on Sunday signed by PANDEF leader Chief Edwin Clark, the group said the chairman of the commission cannot just be removed indiscriminately without a recourse to constitutional provision.
According to Clark, the Constitution specified the process in which the chairman of a statutory body like the PSC could be removed from office.
Obviously, PANDEF said President Tinubu did not follow these processes before firing Arase.
Chief Clark accused the president of sacrificing competence, integrity, and efficiency and merit on the altar of favoritism.
Recall that President Tinubu sacked Arase on June 10 following which he replaced him with Hashimu Argungu, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG.
No reason was given by the Presidency for his removal, but those familiar with the issue said Arase may have been sacked due to allege abuse of office and corruption.
The PANDEF leader however challenged President Tinubu to ‘tell’ Nigerians while Arase waw removed barely two years into office as the Chairman of the PSC.
Part of the statement read, “We, hereby, express profound disappointment, and denounce the unjust manner in which Dr. Solomon Arase, a former Inspector General of Police, was relieved of his duties as Chairman of the Police Service Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, 10th June 2024.
“PANDEF views Arase’s removal as unwarranted, and an unnecessary provocation that reflects negatively on Tinubu’s administration, indicating a lack of regard for the nation’s laws that Mr. President swore to uphold and protect.
“This singular act further portrays this administration as one that does not prioritize competence, integrity, and efficiency; sacrificing merit on the altar of favoritism.
“The question arises as to why any serious government would dismiss a personality like Solomon Arase, who had initiated positive reforms and improvements at the Commission, and given his meritorious track record as a diligent police officer, who rose through the ranks to become the 18th Inspector General of Police of the Nigeria Police Force, and retired with dignity.
“Solomon Arase, a former Inspector General and a native of Edo State in the South-South region of Nigeria, was appointed as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) in January 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Solomon Arase’s tenure as Chairman of the Police Service Commission lasted only about 16 months of the four-year term.
“According to Section 3, subsection (1)a of the Police Service Commission Act 2002, subject to the provisions of Section 4 of the Act, a member of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall each hold office for a term of four years and no more.
“The Act also details the conditions for removal from office in Sections 4 as cited below: (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of this Act, a person shall cease to hold office as member of the Commission if:
(a) He becomes bankrupt, suspends payment or compounds with his creditors; or(b) he is convicted of a felony or any offence involving dishonesty of fraud; or (c)
“He becomes of unsound mind, or is incapable of carrying out his duties; or (d) He is guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his duties; or (e) In the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications, he is disqualified or suspended, other than at his own request, from practicing his profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority made in respect of that member.
“(2) A member of the Commission may be removed by the President if he is satisfied that it is not in the interest of the Commission or the interest of the public that the member should continue in office.
“5 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 of this Act, the Chairman and any other member, may at any time be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause of misconduct).
“The pivotal question remains, “What warranted Solomon Arase’s removal from office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?”
The magazine reported that Arase was appointed as PSC Chairman by former President Muhammadu Buhari on January 24, 2023 for a five year single term. His removal, therefore, barely two years in office is regarded too premature.
