Rivers Police Commissioner Under Investigation

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After days of sitting on the fence as regards the actions of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu for alleged partisanship in the Rivers State crisis, top government officials have confirmed that they have finally begun investigation into the matter.

The Minister for Police affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), and the chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Mike Okiro, who disclosed this Friday, confirmed receiving a petition against Mbu.

All along authorities, including the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had insisted that they could not take action against the Police Commissioner based on hearsay unless a formal complaint against him was received.

Both Olubolade and Okiro spoke at the inauguration of 200 units of three-bedroom flats at Idimu, a Lagos suburb, belonging to the officers and men of the police, named Goodluck Jonathan Housing Estate.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who sent the petition,? had demanded for the immediate re-deployment of Mbu due to the growing threat to his life, but Okiro said an investigation would first be carried out and that the outcome of investigation would determine the next line of action. Olubolade added that due process would be followed as regards the investigation.

The minister said the petition would receive adequate attention ?because its content is weighty,? he however stressed that action could only be taken after detailed investigation had taken place.

Olubolade insisted there was no room in the force for erring and undisciplined policemen and noted that although there was the need for police officers to be alive to their responsibilities, they should however avoid appearing to be partisan.

“You are a police officer and not a politician and your duties as spelled out in the constitution are that of safe-guarding lives and properties of the citizenry. Any policeman that goes out of his or her way to abuse the constitution should get ready to face the wrath of the law.

?The petition against Mbu is weighty and expansive and so he cannot be disciplined without first of all giving him the opportunity to defend himself.? So, now that we have gotten the petition against him, we intend to investigate it and if he is found culpable, he would be dealt with accordingly,” Olubolade said.

Although Mbu is supposed to retire next year, police sources said if found culpable, the Rivers CP may be forced to retire earlier and could also face other disciplinary measures from the Police Service Commission.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was personally in Lagos to inaugurate the new police estate, said it would serve as a moral booster for them and in essence get the desired result as regards the officers living up to their responsibilities.

Commending the police and the private developers for the project, Jonathan said the buildings and other packages were part of his welfare package for men of the Force, ?with a view to making it a better police force designed to tackle contemporary challenges.?

The President added: ?This administration seeks security, enduring peace and to achieve that, we want a full, functional police force. Therefore, we will do all it takes to ensure the operational capability of the police.?

He opined that the PPP initiative was the only way the government could achieve many of its goals of in terms of providing the much needed infrastructural amenities.

Earlier in his remarks the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed? Abubakar disclosed that the housing units, which would be made available for different cadres of police officers, was completed over a period of eight months.

Though he did not disclose the cost of building the estate, he declared that each flat would be given out to interested police officers at the rate of N8 million adding that each buyer would be expected to repay through a mortgage scheme made available by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).

He pointed out that similar estates were currently being built in other parts of the country including Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

Admitting that lack of housing is one of the challenges faced by police officers and their families all over the country,? Abubarkar urged the FG to help construct more barracks across the country and help rehabilitate the existing ones.

“It is only with the aggression of the Federal Government that acute housing shortage of the police can be tackled,” he stated.

Also speaking, Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), commended the efforts of the President and IGP, adding that men and officers of the force will continue to be loyal to the administration of President Jonathan.

And in a related development, a High Court Friday declined to grant an application by the Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, seeking to stop the police from arresting him, while members of the assembly issued a statement asking Evans Bipialaka to stop parading himself as speaker.

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