How Bauchi Police Command Conspires With Bauchi State Government To Frustrate President Buhari’s Anti-Corruption War

Masoyi Lusa

Since the victory of Buhari and his subsequent official inauguration on 29th May,2015 as the Nigeria duly elected president under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress (APC). It would be recalled that Buhari had made a stunning declaration even during campaign period that his administration will fight corruption which he had described as a cancer worried by the poverty and the unfortunate economic doldrums as a result of the twin evil of corruption.

Soon after he took over, Buhari priorities the fight against corruption with wide-range of support from the National Assembly to set the pace including various groups indicating their supports against corruption.

Similarly, fighting corruption appears to be the yardstick behind the electoral victory of APC administration in all ramifications through the party’s change mantra which was meant to provide a sense of belonging to Nigerians bedevilled by the negative scourge of corruption as enshrined in its blueprint.

Same was said to have been chorused by various APC governors, ministers as well as stakeholders in support of President Buhari to fight corruption and that brought to the fore the current investigation in relation to the current arms gate scandal against the former National Security Adviser during president Jonathan reign including many others that were said to have been involved and are currently being investigated by the EFCC.

But, this combine effort of Buhari and stakeholders appears to be facing a serious set-back in Bauchi state when recently one Yakubu Alhaji Jibrin, a general secretary of anti-corruption group in the State was arrested and arraigned in court.

The Bauchi State Police Command under the alleged directive of the Bauchi State Government following an open letter addressed to President Buhari and the Speaker Bauch State House of Assembly to investigate what it describe as financial crimes and misappropriation against governor Mohammed Abubakar.

According to the police spokesperson, one of the persons, Yakubu Alhaji Jibrin was arrested by Police detectives attached to the State Command arrested one on December‎ 28th, 2015.

Mohammed added that the arrested person and others at large were charged to the Chief Magistrate Court II Bauchi on December 29th, 2015.

He said that the offence they committed is contrary to sections 96,114,416 of the Penal code Law and Section 1 sub section 1(a)(b) of official secret Act, CAP 03 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004).

The police had charged the accused of publicizing purported government  documents before the court.

However, following a chat with a senior police officer who pleaded anonymity, he said; “the Bauchi State Police Command, erred in its arrest of Yakubu Jibrin. This is because except for criminal cases, the Bauchi State Police Commissioner who the State Police Command is under, need to get clearance from the Kano State Commissioner of Police since the accused Yakubu is resident in Kano.”

In fact he told this medium Bauchi Police Command supposed to show the arrest warrant to the Kano State Police Commissioner and until he approves it for onward arrest that the Bauchi Police will only do so.

However, this medium learnt that the Bauchi Police Command never followed all this procedures, infact this medium gathered that the Bauchi State Police stormed all Yakubu’s residence in a Gestapo and Commando  style, as they were heavily armed as if Mr. Yakubu is a Criminal wanted by them, even when the case is civil case.

To make it  worse, this medium learnt that the Police Command was on that visit of arrest in company of the men of the State Security Service, SSS.

The questions that remains to be answered by the Bauchi State Police Command and Bauchi State Directorate of the SSS, are these; why will the SSS accompany the Police for this arrest?, why didn’t the Bauchi Police Command get their arrest warrant cleared by the Kano Police Command, since it was not a criminal case.

Why were the Police heavily armed during the arrest making it look as it Yakubu is a Criminal?

It would be recalled that the group had in a statement last Monday alleged that, that its General Secretary, Yakubu Jibrin has been arrested by the police in Kano following an advertorial on Daily Trust newspaper and other medium urging President Buhari and the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly to investigate Governor Abubakar for financial crimes thereby presenting several documents to support their claims.

The group’s President Dogon Taro Bibi had condemned the arrest and arraignment of the group’s General Secretary as he described as a set-back to Buhari fight against corruption which is one of the administration priorities. He also urged stakeholders and civil society groups to wake-up and fight the cause against Corruption.

It was gathered that the arrest of Yakubu Jibrin has attracted serious criticism with several anti corruption and youths groups from Bauchi threatening to stage peaceful protest against the Police and Abubakar, apparently to justify their anger against ugly trend saying the current Buhari administration is serious about free flows of information in line with democratic norms and values.

Leader of the youth group Adamu Ahmed had said, the intimidation of the group against corruption signifies a move to frustrate Buhari’s attempt in fighting corruption explaining that there is no room for corrupt politicians as the youths will not relent in their efforts to seek for the release of the accused under Police detention even when his counsel is seeking for bail regarding poor health conditions.

Abubakar is allege to be under serious attack in the state for falling to appoint Commissioners and other political aides to enhance delivery of government programmes attributing same to paucity of funds, yet have continued to embark on the construction of road projects worth billions which is expected to be approved by the executive council in line with due process and procurement act as claim by the APC administration.

Feelers said, the recent intimidation of the anti-corruption group is a pointer that Abubakar may not enjoy the support of the electorates comes 2019 elections even when he has promise to traced funds allegedly looted by corrupt politicians in the last administration.

However,  instead of working in concert with anti-graft agencies to make sure corrupt past government officials are arrested , he is allegedly arresting members of anti-corruption groups thereby allegedly frustrating Buhari fight against corruption  with the current alleged support he gave to Bauchi Police Command in their latest act.