Rivers: Mbu out, Ogunshakin in

CONTROVERSIAL Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, who was embroiled in a running battle with Governor Rotimi Amaechi, which has fuelled the political crisis in the state has been removed. The Police Service Commission, PSC, redeployed Mr Mbu to the Federal Capital Territory and replaced him with Mr Tunde Ogunshakin who formerly held sway at the Special Fraud Unit, SFU.

Twenty two other police commissioners were redeployed alongside Mbu, including Adenrele Shinaba, one time commissioner in charge FCT, now posted to Kano State, Felix Uyanya, formerly Commandant, Police College, now posted to Ekiti State as the new helmsman.

Ambrose Aisabo, who was formerly in charge of Ports Authority Police, Lagos, is now to head the Kwara State police command, while Kalafite Adeyemi was posted to head Taraba State Command.

Also moved were Abdulmajid Ali, formerly in charge of Bomb Disposal Squad, now posted to Imo State police command, Benjamin Onwuka, formerly Deputy Commandant, Police Staff College, Jos now in charge of Kebbi State. Ibrahim Maishanu is also now in charge of Osun State Command just as Adamu Ibrahim was posted to the Abia State Command and Umaru Shehu, formerly of Nasarawa State Command moves to the Kaduna State command.

Also, Sotonye Wakama, formerly in Ekiti State will now head the Counter-Terrorism Unit; Aderanti Kayode heads the Ports Authority Police, PAP, Western Port, Lagos; Godfrey Okeke moves to to Police College, Oji River, as Deputy Commandant, while Danladi Mshelbwala is the new man at the Bomb Disposal Unit.

Mohammed K. Mohammed is the Deputy Force Secretary just as Agboola Oshodi-Glover is the new commissioner in charge of Infotech at Force Headquarters. Chintua Amajor-Onu is, however, in charge of the Homicide command even as Salisu Fage Abdullahi is the helmsman at the Federal Investigations & Intelligence Bureau (FIIB).

According to the police authorities, Esosa Amadasun moves from Zone 6 to Force Headquarters to head the ‘X’ Squad. Furthermore,  Mr A.J. Abakasanga, formerly in charge of  Infotech at Force headquarters was transferred to Adamawa State as commissioner while Ibrahim Idris was moved to Nasarawa State to head the command.

Meantime, the Chairman of the PSC, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro has asked the newly redeployed officers to put in their best in their various commands’operations, to provide a secure environment for the people and their businesses to thrive.

Observers are of the view that with the redeployment of Joseph Mbu in particular, as the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, the tension existing between the Rivers State government and the State Police Command might simmer down and the normalization of relationships restored.

Before his posting to Rivers State Command, CP Joseph Mbu had served as CP in charge Oyo State. He had served also as CP in charge of Police Mobile Force at Force headquarters and before then, was the Director of Education of the Police Force.

Ogunsakin, the new CP in charge of Rivers State is a crack detective who was one time Director of Operations at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. He was also Director of Operations at the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC. He has held several other appointments at Force headquarters, the most recent being at the SFU.

Meantime, the Rivers State government, yesterday, said the police as defenders of the people should abide by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Mbu: Timeline in Rivers State

15/4/2013: Mbu dispatches five paratroopers and over 25 policemen to seal the PDP Secretariat and prevented Chief G. U. Ake, PDP chairman ousted by the court from entering the building.

3/5/2013: Mbu seals Obio/Akpor Council Secretariat with mobile policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers, (APCs) claiming bomb scare and said it was based on the orders of IGP. The Rivers State House of Assembly had suspended the council two weeks earlier.

06/05/2013: Thugs including ex-militants invaded the Rivers State House of Assembly and sacked the members from the premises. The Policemen deployed to the premises were helpless.

09/05/2013: Mbu orders withdrawal of the Mobile Policemen attached to Okirika Local Government Council and the orderly attached to the Chairman of the Council.

10/05/2013: Mbu accused Governor Amaechi and the Rivers State Government of allegedly bribing a national newspaper to attack and cast aspersions on him, demanding an apology from the governor and the newspaper.

12/05/2013: Hon. Justice H. A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt ordered the Police to remove the barricade at the Obio/Akpor Council Headquarters to allow the Caretaker Members and Council workers access into the Council and to provide security for the Council.

14/05/2013: The Commissioner of Police ordered a complete withdrawal of the policemen from the council, contrary to the order of court that it should provide security to the council.

14/05/2013: Mbu says the Police has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.

14/05/2013: Rivers State women protested and called for the redeployment of the Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu.

17/05/2013: Mbu summons the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Amachree to appear before him following an open letter written by the Speaker to President Goodluck Jonathan to wade into the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

26/06/2013: Mbu directs his men to restrain over 500 men and women from the Orashi Region of the state who were on courtesy visit to the governor. Many of the demonstrators scampered for their lives.

05/09/2013: Mbu redeploys and withdraws escort commander and some other security officers attached to the Governor of Rivers State.

05/09/2013 – 20/09/2013: Mbu withdraws security details and orderlies to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Amachree; Secretary to
Government, Mr. George Feyii; the Attorney-General of the State, Barr. Worgu Boms; the Chief of Staff, Sir Tony Okocha and all commissioners.

12/09/2013: Police mount barricade to the side gate of the Government House, preventing the governor and members of the Conference of Speakers from getting access to Government House through that gate.

21/09/2013: Mbu directs his men led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Bonny Division to seal off the official residence of the Local Government Chairman and to disperse members of the RIV-LEAF, a non-governmental organization  with sympathy for the governor.

26/09/2013: Mbu accuses the Rivers State Government of mobilizing youths to protest against President Jonathan.

10/12/2013: Mbu orders Mobile Policemen to disrupt APC meeting at Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area. Mobile policemen from Mopol Unit 48 carried out the operation, shooting teargas into the gathering of the Ikwerre Local Government Chapter of the APC.

02/01/2014: Mbu prevents Governor Amaechi and Hon. Chidi Lloyd from flying to Abuja.

12/01/14: Senator Magnus Abe shot at a rally in Ogoniland. Police denies responsibility.

14/01/14: Ex-Militants call for the retention of Mbu.

20/01/14: Mbu orders detention of Chairman of Khana Local Government Local Area, Mr. Greg, one of the organizers of the failed Save Rivers Movement rally at Bori.