CSOs To CP Barde: Leave Imo State In Compliance With PSC’s Directive

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and Human Rights Organisations in the country, have stressed the need for the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mohammed Ahmed Barde to respect and comply with his posting out of Imo State as approved by the Police Service Commission (PSC)….[Continue Reading]

The groups noted that besides CP Bade’s disgraceful conduct in Adamawa, his tenure as CP in Imo State has been characterised by incompetence, partisanship, unabated insecurity and human rights violations.

The coalition in a statement in Abuja, further said that on Friday, June 30, 2023, the Police Service Commission (PSC) approved the appointment and deployment of eight Commissioners of Police to various state police commands in the country, adding that newly appointed Commissioners of Police included Stephen Olarewaju, as new CP Imo State Command to replace Barde.

It noted that a statement by the Commission said the postings were as recommended by the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, stressing that apart from Barde, all the newly deployed Commissioners of Police appointed for the various State Commands have since assumed duties in their respective new commands.

The Coalition expressed concern that CP Barde, who was recently queried by the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), for electoral infraction during the Governorship re-run election in Adamawa State and still facing investigation for his discreditable role in compromising election security and sabotaging the electoral process has refused to hand over to his successor by remaining in office in Imo State in spite of his transfer.

The groups made up of ‘Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Lagos’, ‘Barr Samuel Ihensekhien Jnr, Abuja’, ‘One Love Foundation, Delta State’, ‘International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), Anambra State’, ‘Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation (HURSDEF), Rivers State’, ‘Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption (MIIVOC), Rivers State’ in addition to 13 others, noted that Imo State police Command under CP Barde witnessed unimaginable police harassment and intimidation of the political opponents of Governor Hope Uzodinma, adding that violence against the citizens have been rife.

The coalition which also include; the ‘COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peacebuilding, Akwa Ibom’, ‘Initiative for Public Safety, Security and Educational Development in Nigeria. (IPSSED NETWORK); Enugu State’, ‘Grassroots Democracy Network, GDN, Lagos’, ‘Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights, Abuja’, and ‘Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS), Aba, Abia State’, said that it was unclear why CP Barde still remains in Imo despite his replacement as he faces investigation for gross misconduct.

The Coalition alleged that there are however, rumors that Governor Uzodinma wants to have CP Barde retained in Imo to have him ‘supervise’ the forthcoming November 2023 gubernatorial election in the state for him.

They further alleged that Barde’s blood-stained record prompted Civil society organisations across Nigeria to call for his removal from Imo State and an investigation into his unprofessional activities, stressing that to retain Barde in Imo State as CP, or to shield him from appropriate punishment in accordance with legal and statutory stipulations in line with institutional disciplinary standards for his discreditable conducts, is to do grave disservice to the people of Imo state and Nigeria as a whole.

They further said; “It will mean extending the misery of a people who have for long suffered unmitigated oppression and subjugation in the hands of a predatory police under the command of Barde who is a partisan stooge to Governor Hope Uzodinma.

“We recall that former Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, had queried Mohammed Ahmed Barde, over the illegal declaration of Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa State.

“CP Barde, who was the commissioner of police in Imo State then, served as the police commissioner on election duty in Adamawa for the governorship election. He was one of the three service commanders who allegedly assisted the embattled Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari to declare the APC candidate, Binani, as the winner of the poll before the conclusion of collation of results.

“In a letter addressed to Barde and dated June 1, 2023, the IGP highlighted his failure to deliver on his duties and accused him of conspiring with Yunusa-Ari. The letter came some weeks after the police authorities withdrew him from election duties in the state over the controversial incident.

“The letter, querying Barde, was signed by the then Force Secretary, AIG Habu Sani, on behalf of the Inspector General of Police.

“The IG ordered the police commissioner to explain his “disgraceful” acts of serious misconduct within 48 hours, stating why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.

“The police said his actions culminated in a compromise of the security situation in the state and also queried him for divided loyalty, sabotage, and acts unbecoming of a public officer,” they noted….[Continue Reading]