Top Police Boss, Mike Okiro in Impersonation Scandal

Former Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, is currently in an impersonation mess. Anti-graft coalition, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has accused him of illegally parading himself as the Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC).

In a petition to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, the CSNAC through its Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraj, prayed that Okiro should stop parading himself as the Chairman of the PSC.

CSNAC said since a new PSC Board has been appointed by the Federal Government, the SGF should order Mr. Okiro to hand over to the relevant officer deemed fit to act in that capacity, adding that his continuous stay is a disregard for the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.            ,

The petition stated that “after the dissolution of the PSC Board on 29 December 2017, Mr. Okiro has continued to function as its Chairman.” It added that in an internal memo he issued in his purported position as Chairman on January 5, Mr. Okiro directed the Permanent Secretary of the Commission to carry out certain instructions. These, it said, included an instruction that the Permanent Secretary should report an action to him within seven days.

“It is with grave concern that CSNAC views the contemptuous disregard of the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari as conveyed by your office on the 29 December 2017, dissolving the Board of the Police Service Commission (PSC) among others, headed by retired Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, by his continued stay in office and performing functions of the office despite the composition of a new Board.

“With the weight of responsibility placed on an important agency of government such as the PSC, it is disastrous to allow any functionary to operate it illegally and by extension, in nullity,” CSNAC said.

The new members of the PSC Board, according to the petition are Mrs. Gladys Amuleke, Mr. Kelobas A. Kere, Mr. Olayinka Balogun, Mr. Muktar Okpaniki, Mrs. Maria E.A Ukpanyang and Mr. Suleiman M. Namadi. The list also stated that the Chairman will be appointed by the President.

“While the president is yet to name a Chairman, Section 161(C) of the 1999 Constitution as amended is explicit. 161 (C) “any reference to “member” of a body established by Section 153 of this constitution shall be construed as including a reference to the Chairman of that body,” the statement reiterated.

It expressed the view that the decision of Mr. Okiro to continue functioning as Chairman till date could be due to lack of understanding of the statutes or a deliberate disregard of government’s directive with a motive to continue certain activities that will be inimical to the interests of the Police and the public.