Lagos — Fillers from the Louis Edet House, headquarters of the Nigerian Police in Abuja, suggests that former Inspector General of Police, Mr Tafa Balogun might have ran into trouble over his refusal to heed the call of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who allegedly prodded him to promote the embattled Chairman of the Economic and inancial Crimes Commission, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.

Those who claimed to be in the know of what actually transpired at the force headquarters when Balogun held sway as the police boss claimed former President Obasanjo urged him elevate the EFCC chairman who was then an assistant commissioner of police to the rank of a full commissioner, a compensation for doing effectively well as the chairman of the anti-graft commission, by this he was to be doubly promoted to DCP and then to CP.

Balogun reportedly rebuffed the call arguing that doing so would amount to setting a bad precedence in the force. He said such action if taken could not be justified in law. The Ila-born former police boss contended that while such action could be excused at the lower cadre, it could generate bad blood at the top echelon.

The former boss further buttressed his position with the fact that Ribadu has not attended the mandatory promotional course needed even to be promoted to the rank of a deputy commissioner, talk less of jumping to become a commissioner. He further rubbed his position home by reminding the officer who played the role of an emissary that the then president being, a retired general himself versed in order and structure in the military tradition cannot fault him on his stance.

His refusal, which was seen as an affront might have hasten his sack and a brush with the EFCC. He was subsequently arraigned by the commission for allegations bordering on corruption. He was later jailed for six months.

This may earned Balogun the tag of an enemy, as those whose ego were bruised had to wait patiently for him to have their pound of flesh. Ribadu now had to beam the searchlight of the commission on the activities of the former police boss. To succeed in the scheme, EFCC needed to solicit the assistance of somebody at the force headquarters. The candidate must have access to the innermost dealings of the former police boss. The right person had to be an officer of the rank of a deputy inspector general, one who has one or two scores to settle with Balogun.

An officer was approached, the officer is believed to have met all the requirements spelt out. The officer who was responsible for a critical department of the force soon went to work. It said that the officer who had many incriminating correspondence in his possession was the source through which most of the documents that nailed Balogun was made available to the EFCC.

Having succeeded in getting rid of his boss, the "cooperating officer" was elevated to a position of prominence in the police hierarchy. To give vent to the ambition of the former president, he played a vital role in recommending the out-going chairman of EFCC for promotion to deputy commissioner of police without any exams, commissioner of police, without making him pass through the mandatory examinations necessary. He also played an important role in making Ribadu an assistant inspector general also without undergoing the prerequisite examination.

All these recommendations, were carried out with the approval of the former president to the surprise of the entire police community but according to one police officer, things got so bad that order and structure had been eroded. He cited an instance when Ribadu had visited force headquarters, the day was a period when the routine security briefing was going on. The Inspector General usually sits down to appraise the security of the country with officers of the ranks of DIG, AIG and states police commissioners, on one of such occasion, the meeting had to be put on hold as Ribadu's time must not be delayed.

Another source recalled an instance when suspected armed robbers were being paraded by the leadership of the force, with all police senior officers in attendance, Ribadu reportedly came into the conference room, without even saluting those present only to go straight to the then IGP, Mr. Sunday Ehindero were he was seated, shook his hands and went out host hot on his heels behind him.

Shortly before Ehindero left office in May 2007, sources said attempts were made to create an opportunity for Nuhu Ribadu to do a crash programme at Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) so that the anti-corruption fighter's name would be included in the list of those that were being tipped to take over from him. The plan failed as NIPSS would not like to be seen as circumventing it's admission process.

On appointment and confirmation of Mike Okiro as the IG of police, the yearly ritual of nominating officers for both the National Defence College and the NIPSS came up with seven officers being nominated. The officers whose list was sent to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for approval, as is the practice in both the military and police include AIG Mu'azu Hadeija, who is in charge of works at force headquarters, AIG Nuhu Ribadu of EFCC, Commissioners P Danlami Yar'Adua, Abubakar Sardauna, Haliru Zalewa and Bukar Maina.

The criteria that are used for selecting officers for the NIPSS course were seniority, number of years left to serve which must not be less than five years but if the affected officer is a university he is eligible. He must be an officer of the rank not than a colonel in the army, permanent secretary in states' civil service and a director at the Federal Civil Service.

Having made the selection, Okiro sent the list to Mr. President who promptly gave his approval, police hierarchy have been surprised at the ripples that have been generated by Ribadu's selection for the course. The inspector general was miffed for several reasons one of which Vanguard learnt was the fact that officers and opinion moulders in the North were not favourably disposed to Ribadu proceeding to Jos to attend the course. They fear that if he successfully completes the course, he (Ribadu) might stand a better chance of being appointed an IGP whenever the position reverts to the region.

The embattled officer is said to have about 12 years more to serve in the force but the police hierarchy is said to be angered by his antics of introducing a political dimension to the move particularly when he was quoted as feigning ignorance of his movement to Jos. The police high command is even piqued by the assertion from Ribadu claiming that the IGP can not exercise such powers on him since he was only responsible to the president as a political appointee.

It is against this background that the Inspector-General himself publicly confirmed at a press conference during a parade of some criminals, that Nuhu Ribadu will not only be going to NIPSS for the senior officer's course, he will be replaced as EFCC Chairman for the period he will be at the institute.

According to Okiro, "Ribadu's going to NIPSS is a policy matter of the police force. He is the second most qualified by seniority of the seven officers on the list, and eligibility and it has been forwarded to the authorities of NIPSS noting that there was no going back.

His words, "Ribadu is first and foremost, a police officer and an AIG for that matter. As you know, courses are a pre-requisite for progress in the force. Such courses help to develop both the officer and the institution he works for.

"His going on the course or removal is not an attempt to ground the war against corruption. It does not remove him from being a police officer or stop him from performing his anti-graft duties. Going on course will only make him a better officer and improve him for the job"

Okiro added, "He is not being sent on course for any other ulterior motive than the reasons stated above. He is not being sent to NIPSS on the prompting of any external body or bodies".

While the debate was raging, Vanguard was reliably informed that none of those being touted would make it as chairman of the anti-graft body or take over Ribadu as a serving assistant inspector general had been placed on standby to take over the job.

The AIG who hails from Sokoto State, North West zone of the country, was at one time, the commissioner of police in charge of Kogi State. He was also the AIG in charge of Zone 6 in Calabar as well as AIG Zone 8 in Lokoja before his present appointment as AIG in the North East Zone of the country.

Explaining rationale behind his selection for the job, a senior officer said he was not only an officer of impeccable character, his records in all the assignments he has been giving including deputy commissioner of a state command, commissioner of police and the zones he had served showed an officer who abhors corruption and sharp practices.

Besides, the officer who is an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies is a lawyer of about 15 years experience and one who believes in following the rule of law no matter whose ox is gored. He is also said to apply the fear of God in any in anything he does.

Investigation carried out by our correspondent revealed that of the 17 serving AIG's in the Nigerian Police Force, only two; namely Mu'azu Hadeija and Nuhu Ribadu are the ones yet to attend any senior officers' course. The others are either fellows of the National Defence College (FWC) or alumni of the National Institute or qualified to wear the tag Mni after their names.

Over 17 serving CPs and DCPs have completed the mandatory nine months course both in NIPSS and the National Defence College while five serving DCPs and one CP are currently attending the National Defence College course in Abuja.