Don’t compare Obaniyi’s case with Tafa Balogun, says Okiro.
By Kingsley Omonobi
Posted to the Web: Wednesday, September 05, 2007



ABUJA—Acting Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro explained yesterday that it was wrong for anybody to compare the N21. 6million fraud involving a former CP Budget, John Obaniyi, with that which consumed former IG, Tafa Balogun saying both offences apart from being different, deserve separate modes of punishment.

He has been asked why it was taking such a long time to take Obaniyi to court when during the time of Tafa Balogun, EFCC took him to court within a short time after he was arrested for corruption.

Okiro, who was speaking on his 100 days in office, replied that “at the time Tafa Balogun was taken to court, he was already a retired officer which exempted him from certain privileges. This officer (Obaniyi) is still serving and by the act establishing the Police Service Commission, the commission has powers to discipline him which they have done by setting up a committee to discipline him.

Recall that after investigations which found CP Obaniyi culpable of the fraud, a force disciplinary committee comprised of Deputy Inspectors General of Police was set up on the recommendation of the PSC to try him after which they would recommend the punishment to be meted out to him. He is currently suspended from the force.

Recall also that former IG Tafa Balogun who could not be disciplined by the PSC by virtue of his rank and appointment, was charged to court by EFCC, and sentenced, having being found guilty of fraud running into billions of naira.

Giving a breakdown of successes recorded in the fight against crime since he assumed office, Okiro said, “a total of 1, 628 armed robbers were arrested, 1582 arms recovered, 6, 514 rounds of ammunition recovered while 785 robbers were killed in shoot-outs with the police during operations.”

“242 stolen vehicles were recovered during the period, 472 cases relating to criminal activities and robberies have been charged to court while 62 police men were killed in the line of duty to the nation” he said.

Furthermore, Okiro said, “in pursuance of my avowed commitment to tackle the menace of kidnapping in the Niger Delta and other places, I ordered a clampdown on all kidnapping and related offences on my assumption of office”
“Our efforts in this regard led to the arrests of 30 persons involved in kidnap cases in Anambra, Rivers States and the federal capital territory. In Anambra, 19 men were arrested for kidnapping 2 Chinese nationals and keeping them incommunicado for a long time.”

“Also, 2 members of a 12 man student gang involved in kidnapping were apprehended by the police. The gang had collected between N200, 000 to N2million from parents of their victims before two members of the gang, one Peter Okafor and Okechukwu Nwankwo were arrested” he said.

Reacting to questions as to what the police was doing to stem increasing wave of crime in Abuja, Okiro said, “In the last three months or so, the police in Abuja has arrested 32 armed robbers, recovered 8 arms, 40 vehicles, 4 policemen were killed while 8 were injured in shootouts. So you can see that the police is not resting on their oars.”

Meanwhile, families of 95 police officers who lost their lives to hoodlums and mob action, some during shoot out with dare-devil armed robbers, were yesterday given insurance packages by the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro.

Some officers who are alive but have become handicapped due to injuries sustained while battling armed robbers or got injured in accidents while pursing armed robbers, were also presented cheques.

Represented by the DIG Operations, Adedayo Adeoye at the ceremony, the families were presented cheques with amounts ranging from N250, 000 to N2million depending on the rank of the officer for the dead and degree of injury sustained by those still alive.




http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/cover/september07/05092007/f805092007.html

How jacked up is this country and our leaders? Imagine people saying police are not effective and yet they are only paid a peasant 250 t0 2 million when caught in the line of fire. How many people will sacrifice their lives to tackle criminal for this price? and we have senators renovating house and buying cars for over 600 Millions.

Mamajama:


Giving a breakdown of successes recorded in the fight against crime since he assumed office, Okiro said, “a total of 1, 628 armed robbers were arrested, 1582 arms recovered, 6, 514 rounds of ammunition recovered while 785 robbers were killed in shoot-outs with the police during operations.”

We hope that those being labeled armed robbers are actually armed robbers this one he is not refering to them as suspected armed robbers.

okiro is a failure even now