It’s a blow to the police, says IG

Inspector-General of Police (IG) Ogbonna Onovo has described the abduction of Pa Simeon Soludo, father of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Chukwuma Soludo as a blow to the police’s efforts to stop kidnapping in the South-East.

Onovo, who spoke during a working visit to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday in Abuja, sought the assistance of the military to train 150 policemen at the School of Infantry.

He was received by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike.

His words: "I am here to pay compliments to renew the cordial relationship between the Police and the Defence Headquarters. This is my first time to visit the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) since I came into office though you have been of tremendous help to us, especially when I had my baptism of fire a day after I was appointed with the Boko Haram crisis in Bauchi State.

"The DHQ was of tremendous help to us in quelling the crisis. I don’t know how we would have coped without your assistance. We were overwhelmed by the crisis because it was something unexpected but with your aid to a sister security agency we were able to curtail the problem. The situation was brought under control though not without some controversy but peace was restored."

Besides, Onovo said the visit would afford him the opportunity to be advised by the CDS on the need to train and retrain policemen.

"I recalled the advice you gave on the need for our men to be trained and retrained and you have offered to do so at your School of Infantry and I am here to say we are ready to take you on your offer. We have 150 men ready for that training and we thank you for the cordial relationship between the military and the police," he said.

While he appreciated the lessening friction between the lower ranks of the police and military, Onovo noted: "Anybody in conflict situation knows that his saviour might not be any family member but another man in uniform. Since you came on board, the skirmishes have reduced due to your able leadership."

He went on: "I want to also commend the effort made be you to ensure joint effort by the police and the military in tackling crime like in the Niger Delta during the militancy era which has been brought under control.

"We have security problems all over the world but Nigerians want an environment of peace and security hence we have to give all to provide that."

Replying, Air Chief Marshal Dike said the request to train 150 policemen will be honoured as soon as the modalities have been worked out.

"The Police have done well and we are willing to render any assistance to aid your smooth operations. As concerning your request, as soon as the modalities are in place, we will inform you accordingly," he said.

Students unhappy over third term plans

Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, was at Harvard University where he spoke to a packed audience and responded to pointed questions on the possibility he will seek a third term in office.

Uribe was elected president in 2002 and retains an approval rating of nearly 70 per cent due to the improvement in national security under his administration.

He detailed the many ways his country has advanced in the past seven years, and he also laid out his vision for a stable and united Colombia. "Colombia has seen many administrations that have not seen a single day of peace," Uribe said.

His plan to seek a third term in office by amending the Colombian Constitution took center stage when he began fielding questions from the audience. Were Uribe to succeed, it would mark the second time he has passed an amendment in order to remain in power.

"The referendum that is pending to allow yourself to serve a third term could set a dangerous precedent for future leaders," Jake Sloane, a 200-Level student, told the President.

Juan Felipe Botero, a Law student, asked: "What will be your advice to the person who shall replace you as President in less than a year’s time?" The question, which implicitly demanded Uribe step aside for the next election, was cheered by the audience.

Uribe responded to both questions by pointing to political and economic gains made by his administration and stressing that the separation of powers in Colombia would prevent the unfair perpetuation of power.

Alex W. Palmer, another 200-Level student and member of the IOP forum committee, said he enjoyed the event despite Uribe’s somewhat evasive responses.

Bode George, others should return stolen wealth’

The National Conscience Party (NCP) governorship candidate in Ogun State in the April 14, 2007 election, Mr. Lanre Banjo, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to stop at the conviction of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George and others, for fraud, but to recover the stolen wealth.

George and former Chief Executive of NPA Aminu Dabo, Olusegun Abidoye, Abdullahi Tafida, Zanna Maideribe and Sule Aliyu were on Monday jailed by Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, for two-and-half years each without an option of fine over N85 billion contract scam at the NPA.

They were sentenced two years on each of the seven-count charge of abuse of office and six months each for the 27-count of disobedience to constituted authority.

Banjo advised the commission to return to court to seek the return of the stolen funds or confiscate all the properties of the convicts.

This, he said, would serve as a deterrent to others.

Banjo, who spoke in an online interview with The Nation, said corruption by public officials had remained a major impediment to progress.

He praised Justice Olubunmi Oyewole for serving the course of justice.

"His statement that when public office is abused, the entire populace is assaulted lifted Nigeria in the eyes of the world. It gave us hope. When he continued that this must not be condoned or treated with kid gloves, and if the quality of service in our public life is altered to the appreciable standard of the civilised world, the right deterrent should be given. This statement strikes the nerves of people with conscience and sends fear into the inner spines of looters," he said.

Banjo denounced George’s supporters, who prevented photo-journalists from taking pictures and harassed prosecutors and reporters in the court premises.

He urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to make a law that would make it unlawful for anyone to violate people’s rights within the court premises.

Also yesterday, the Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress (AC) hailed the conviction of George and others.

It described the development as a positive development in the anti-corruption war.

In a statement in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party berated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for saying it would fight to free George.

The party said the statement showed that the PDP was "remorselessly committed to promoting corruption."

"The conviction of Bode George is a welcome development and we believe that even as the sentence handed down to him was mild, it sends a positive signal to those who loot the treasury that someday, they will stand trial for their offences. We are happy that this character has been thrown to jail for his sundry role in looting the NPA and we salute the EFCC Chairman for effortlessly pulling this conviction through. We believe that there are many Bode Georges in the PDP and that the conviction of George will serve no useful purpose if other looters are not brought to justice.

"We must note that there were frantic moves made by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to shield George from justice. This rendered the work of the former leadership of the EFCC a huge joke as this desperate effort lasted. It also showed that the Obasanjo government was merely using anti-corruption as a ruse to promote his political interests. We hope the present government will not do same on the critical issue of fighting corruption," the statement reads in part.

The party frowned on PDP’s defence of George after his trial before a court of competent jurisdiction.