THERE were indications, Wednesday night, that President Goodluck
Jonathan might sanction the Commandant of the Ikeja Police College, Mr. Irimiya
Yerima, over what the Presidency described as negative image given to Nigeria
by the exposure of the rot in the college to the world.
Jonathan might sanction the Commandant of the Ikeja Police College, Mr. Irimiya
Yerima, over what the Presidency described as negative image given to Nigeria
by the exposure of the rot in the college to the world.
Vanguard gathered that President Jonathan was still angry over the
filming of the filth in the college by Channels Television, thereby painting
Nigeria in bad light.
filming of the filth in the college by Channels Television, thereby painting
Nigeria in bad light.
The feeling within
the Presidency is that it was the commandant that gave unfettered access to the
television station to record the footage and beam it to the world so as to
embarrass the Federal Government.
the Presidency is that it was the commandant that gave unfettered access to the
television station to record the footage and beam it to the world so as to
embarrass the Federal Government.
The anger of the Presidency stems from the fact that there was no
way the crew could have entered the premises of the dilapidated college without
the approval of Yerima, a commissioner of police.
way the crew could have entered the premises of the dilapidated college without
the approval of Yerima, a commissioner of police.
It was learnt that many heads are likely to roll as soon as
Jonathan returns to the country from his overseas trip.
Jonathan returns to the country from his overseas trip.
Competent sources told Vanguard, yesterday, that Yerima had
already been made to write statements to the Police High Command and the
Presidency over his involvement or otherwise in the filming of the college but
that the authorities were still seething with anger.
already been made to write statements to the Police High Command and the
Presidency over his involvement or otherwise in the filming of the college but
that the authorities were still seething with anger.
One source claimed that the President was set to descend on Yerima
and other officials in the police force whose indiscretion led to the uncanny
exposure of Nigeria to ridicule.
and other officials in the police force whose indiscretion led to the uncanny
exposure of Nigeria to ridicule.
Falana offers to defend Yerima free
However, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, yesterday threatened to
tackle the Presidency if Yerima was dismissed over no fault of his.
Falana said in Abuja that the police commissioner did not commit any offence to
warrant being sacked from his duty post by the Presidency.
tackle the Presidency if Yerima was dismissed over no fault of his.
Falana said in Abuja that the police commissioner did not commit any offence to
warrant being sacked from his duty post by the Presidency.
Falana said: “If Jonathan
dismisses Yerima, I will go to court to challenge him and I will defend the CP
free of charge because he has not committed any offence.
dismisses Yerima, I will go to court to challenge him and I will defend the CP
free of charge because he has not committed any offence.
“Under the Freedom of Information Act, it would have been an
offence for anyone to stop Channels Television from filming the college and we
have no evidence it was Yerima who gave them access to do so.”
offence for anyone to stop Channels Television from filming the college and we
have no evidence it was Yerima who gave them access to do so.”
Even before Jonathan’s return to Nigeria, the police authorities
had raised a high-powered committee to examine funds remitted to the colleges
nationwide and the panel is expected to turn in its report before the end of
the month.
had raised a high-powered committee to examine funds remitted to the colleges
nationwide and the panel is expected to turn in its report before the end of
the month.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, and the
Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), are said to be
gripped by fear over the development at the Ikeja Police College.
Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), are said to be
gripped by fear over the development at the Ikeja Police College.
Both men are reported to have prepared their defence ahead of
Jonathan’s return to the country later in the week.
Jonathan’s return to the country later in the week.
Source: Vanguard
