IGP orders withdrawal of senior police officers attached to EFCC

THE acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered the withdrawal of senior police officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police and above attached to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC.

The directive is coming barely two months after Abdulrasheed Bawa took over the reins of leadership of the anti-graft commission.

Baba said the decision became necessary to “cover” operational lapses in the force.

This order was contained in a letter dated April 15, addressed to the EFCC Chairman and signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IG, Idowu Omohunwa.

According to the letter, the police boss directed that the affected officers should report not later than Wednesday (today).

The letter was titled, ‘Withdrawal of senior police officers from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police and above attached to the EFCC.’

It read in part, “I write to extend earnest 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 and above attached to your agency.

“The 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 10am for further instructions.

“I am to also request that you avail this 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.”

Since its establishment in 2003, the current chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, is the first person, not chosen from the Nigeria Police Force, to have led the anti-graft commission.

Bawa’s appointment may not be unconnected with one of the recommendations of the Ayo Salami- led presidential  panel that probed the suspended of the commission, Ibrahim Magu.

The Salami-led panel had suggested to Buhari to allow somebody with an expertise in Investigations but outside the police force to lead the EFCC.