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BiuALL is set for the trial of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and five others over the shocking escape of a Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, from custody.
Zakari Biu and the others will face the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) tomorrow, The Nation learnt.
The suspects, who are being kept by the military, are to tell the Committee why they should not be punished for allowing the Christmas Day bombing suspect to escape from custody.
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry Osayande, last Thursday, mandated the Force Headquarters to constitute the committee to try the suspects.
Although the FDC usually comprises five Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, the Commission gave a waiver to the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, to allow Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to be on the panel.
The commission took the decision since most of the senior AIGs will soon be appointed DIGs.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) has been handling the investigation of Biu and five other policemen.
“The military has concluded investigation into the escape of the wanted Boko Haram suspect. And if anything is being done to re-arrest Kabiru Sokoto, it is the military and the State Security Service (SSS) that are handling that,” the source said, adding:
“Biu and other suspects have been in custody of the military since they were arrested. He is neither under house arrest or police custody as being insinuated. It is from the military custody that they will be brought to face the Force Disciplinary Committee.
“The chairman of the PSC has written the Force Headquarters to raise the FDC for the trial of all the suspects. In the absence of DIGs, the AIGs (led by the one in charge of Administration) will try these police officer and men.”
The panel, which ought to start sitting last Friday, is expected to begin its work tomorrow. The Force Headquarters considered today’s public holiday in fixing the time, it was learnt.
Responding to a question, the source said: “There is nothing like court martial in the Police; the PSC will never allow the military to try any police officer.”
On the duration of the trial, he said it would not last for more than one week, “except there are some circumstances beyond the control of the FDC”.
A member of the Commission in charge of Publicity, Ms Comfort Obi, confirmed last night that the Chairman, DIG Parry Osayande (rtd), permitted the Force Headquarters to allow a group of AIGs form the FDC to try Biu and others.
The panel is expected to send its recommendations to the Commission.
Section 30 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution says, “the Police Service Commission shall have power to (a) appoint persons to offices (other than the Office of the Inspector-General of Police) in the Nigeria Police Force; and (b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding any office referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.”
The Christmas Day bombings at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church killed 44 parishioners and others.
Of the 44 victims, 26 were parishioners. The dead are Anthony Okoronkwo; Comrade Dike A. Williams; Emmanuel Dike; Richard Dike; Lilian Dike; Lynda Chioma Ubiukwu; Uche Queen Obiukwu; Chidinma Cynthia Obiukwu; Linderlin Ifeoma Obiukwu; Ann-Chinedu Aigbadon; Chiemeri Nwachukwu; Cecilia Ebeku; Oluebube Faustina Pius; Chidera Sylvia Pius; Florence Nwachukwu and Eucharia Ewoh.
Others are Joseph Daniel; Inspector Titus Eze; Obasi Jonathan Onyebuchi; Ehiawaguan Peter; Uche Esiri; Sgt. Kadiri Danjuma; and five unidentified Persons.
Twenty days after the explosions, the Boko Haram member suspected to be the mastermind of the action, Sokoto, was arrested at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on January 14.
But, barely 48 hours in custody, Sokoto escaped in Abaji when policemen went to search his home.
National Security Adviser Gen. Owoye Azazi set up a panel of senior officials from different arms of the security agencies as well as officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs to probe the incident.
SOURCE: The Nation, 6 February 2012. http://www.thenationonlineng.net
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