•Recalls retired deputy controller general
By Oguwike Nwachuku
Executive Editor/Editor
Tension and “war” envelop the headquarters of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) following the recall of Deputy Controller General (DCG), Aminu Suley, who was retired a year ago to pave the way for the appointment of Peter Ekpendu as CGP.
The development is being interpreted in hush tones in Prisons circles in Abuja and elsewhere as a plot by the government to sack Ekpendu, who was appointed on December 5, 2014 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Ekpendu is the only Igbo man who has headed a military or paramilitary body in the country since the All Progressive Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari came on board.
Rift in management
Investigation by TheNiche showed that the rift opening up in the top management of the NPS may have implications for national security.
Tension has created divisions along regional and tribal lines, which may put the management of prisons at great risk as “no one can predict the fallout from such crisis,” said a senior officer who hails from the Middle Belt and does not want his name in print.
On Tuesday, December 15, the government reportedly restored to office Suley, who was retired last year after Ekpendu, his junior, was appointed CGP.
Our source described his reinstatement as “manifest nepotism which went against the grain of what the Buhari administration preaches.
“I have my reservations if the Buhari administration has approved the return of Suley to office as a deputy controller general of Prisons without considering the huge implications.”
Another top officer of the NPS in Lagos told TheNiche that “watchers of this development are wondering if [Buhari] is aware of this because as a military officer himself, he should know that discipline in the line of duty is the hallmark of military and paramilitary services.
“He should also know that if a properly effected process is reversed like that, it sends the wrong signal to those concerned and creates the impression of an organisation that is run like a market place.
“What is curious about this recall is that the board of the service was not aware of the recall. Nor was it discussed, leading people to guess if Buhari is aware of the damage he is doing to the Prisons by acting the way he did.
“The question people are asking now is, will this man (Suley) work under his junior or will Ekpendu be asked to go for him? Either way, watchers see it as hypocrisy on the part of a government that says change is its mantra.”
Court case
Another NPS officer serving in Benin told TheNiche that “curiously, we are told, Suley accepted his retirement in good fate but pleaded that he be allowed to stay in the official quarters for longer than necessary so that he would be protected from Boko Haram members who were allegedly after him.
“But as soon as Buhari won the election, Suley went to court to protest his retirement. In court, the government party showed all the documents that proved that his retirement was according to due process.
“The court went on a very long recess until December 10. But on that day the judge and the case file were allegedly nowhere to be seen even though all the parties were in court.
“The registrar adjourned the case, promising all parties that they would be given a fresh hearing notice. But the following day, December 11, the judge appeared in court with only Suley’s lawyer in attendance and struck out the case.
“The next week, he (Suley) was recalled to service. What discerning minds are saying is that let the rules be declared and followed. Not one rule for one person and the other for another.
“This government must show its hands are above board.”
Does Buhari have full information?
TheNiche sought to know if the board of Civil Defence, Fire, Immigrations, and Prisons – which has statutory responsibility to appoint, promote, and discipline – is officially aware of the matter.
It was discovered that the board may not be involved. A senior Prisons officer at the headquarters asked: “Is Mr president aware of this desecration or is somebody misleading him?
It was learnt that the reason given in the letter recalling Suley is that he was not given acting appointment and should not have been retired when his junior was appointed CGP.
But insiders insisted that those behind the plot to bring Suley back forget that apart from the fact that he acted as CGP, he was senior to Ekpendu who was appointed in substantive position.
Government reversing itself
Another NPS officer said “the government that is reversing itself on this matter is the same government that appointed an assistant commandant general of the Civil Defence Corps, a Northerner, and promptly retired all other senior assistant commandants general and deputy commandants general senior to him.
“At the appointment of the present crop of service chiefs, all generals senior to them in their respective services were promptly retired. Why this revision?
“It will seem that there are laws for Northern Muslims and others for the rest of Nigeria. If the government does not reverse this decision, it will have terrible consequences for national security.”
Jailbreaks
Before Jonathan approved the appointment of Ekpendu, Suley had hopes of occupying the post of CGP, in which he acted.
But Suley, whose tenure was replete with jailbreaks in different parts of the country, was not confirmed in the post.
There were jailbreaks in Niger, Kogi, and Ekiti States in the last three months of Suley’s tenure as acting CGP.
The breaks were as a result of external attacks believed to have been carried out by members of Boko Haram, a terrorist group with strongholds in the North East.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concern over increasing jailbreaks in Nigeria.
NHRC Governing Council Chairman, Chidi Odinkalu, lamented the jailbreaks, saying: “The attacks have become worrisome, as the rights of innocent Nigerians who work at the various prisons are being violated.”
Suley’s removal on December 5, 2014 came days after a prison was attacked in Ekiti State by gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram. More than 400 inmates were set free.
Odinkalu said the development would prolong the incarceration of awaiting trial inmates.
Ekpendu’s career
Ekpendu has active career in the NPS.
Between 1991 and 1994, he was deputy commandant, Prisons Training College, Lagos. From 1995 to 1996, he worked at Umuahia Prison and left for Owerri Prison, where he spent two years.
He also worked in different parts of the country until 2012 when he was appointed DCG (Administration).
Ekpendu holds Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
He did not answer calls to his telephone number on Thursday, December 17. He also did not respond to a text message sent to him.