The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, has said that the directive given to the Nigeria Police Force by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to withdraw policemen attached to individuals as guards does not affect judges and legislators.
A statement signed by the Press Secretary to the Minister, James Odaudu, said the directive was for the immediate withdrawal of all police officers and men attached to private individuals and organisations without due authorisation. He said it did not affect those approved by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mike Okiro, such as policemen attached to judges, legislators and those in the executive arm of government.
“It is important to note that this directive does not involve persons in positions in the judiciary, legislative or executive arms of government. These category of officials should continue to retain their orderlies, if such orderlies were duly and officially attached to them. All police officers not officially attached to persons with whom they are currently performing such duties have been directed, in their own interest, to return to their respective commands immediately,” the statement said.
The statement further said: “The position of government is that it frowns seriously at indiscriminate and unauthorized use of police officers and men being attached to private individuals in the society. It is quite disgraceful to see police officers and men performing demeaning and unethical jobs for their principals. This is identified as one of the major factors that debase the professional values and ethics of the Nigeria Police Force. It also undermines discipline and provides cover to criminals to shield their nefarious activities and even to commit unpardonable and unforgiving crimes against the society.” The statement said only those approved by the IGP should be given Police escorts or orderlies, while stern disciplinary measures would be taken against erring officers and men on such unapproved duties.
Since the announcement by the Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili last Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), a cross-section of Nigerians and institutions, like the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Action Congress (AC), and the National Assembly have criticised the move.
When our reporter called the Nigeria Police Force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, on the backpedalling by government on the withdrawal of police orderlies, he said, the directive was subject to review.
“The directive may be reviewed by the IG,” he told Sunday Trust. “It is the IG’s prerogative to give police orderlies, so the withdrawal may be looked into further.”
But he could not confirm if the Police Minister’s statement, reversing the withdrawal of orderlies, was done in agreement with the Police Inspector General.
Meanwhile, commenting on the development a one-time president of the Nigerian Barr Association (NBA), Mr. Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said there was no need for the Federal Government to overheat the polity on the matter in the first place.
According to him, it is a universal practice for judges and magistrates to move with police orderlies that will shield them from terrorism, abduction and harassment since they handle cases involving dangerous criminals.
“It shows that government has listened to public opinion on the matter. All over the world, judges and magistrates move about with police orderlies, so they should stop unnecessarily overheating of the polity,” he said.
He recalled that when he served as president of the NBA, the same issue was contemplated and the NBA met with the Inspector General of Police, who said it was an order from above. “But we met with the president then and it was jettisoned,” the senior advocate said.
Olanipekun cited the example of the way one-time Chief Judge of Ondo State who was attacked in Ado Ekiti by a robber he convicted years back. The judge had taken shelter somewhere and asked his driver and orderly to go and refuel his car at a time fuel was scarce in the country.
“While the judge was standing, a man approached him and asked whether he (the judge) could recognise him. The judge said no, and he (the ex-convict) reminded him that he had convicted him, and he eventually robbed the judge. If the orderly were around, it wouldn’t have happened,” he said.
In his reaction, the chairman House of Representatives Committee on Media, Rep. Eseme Eyibo , lauded the decision of the federal government to make a U-turn on the matter. According to him, government policies were not cast in iron and therefore were subject to reviews based on needs.
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives had vehemently opposed the planned withdrawal of police orderlies from judicial officers and lawmakers.
The House’ spokesman said rescinding the decision was the right thing to do because any policy that is counter-productive required change or adjustment.
“They are at liberty to do some amendments for such policies to be productive and acceptable to Nigerians,” the lawmaker said.