Police Dismiss Three Officers over Raid on Clark’s House

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Nigerian Police has dismissed three of its men for their role in the illegal search of the Abuja residence of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.

The fourth and leader of the team, ASP David Dominic, has been queried and is still under investigation for alleged professional misconduct and infringement of the fundamental rights of the elder statesman, an offence the force said could eventually lead to his sack.

Their dismissal was made public thursday in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood.

According to the statement, “The Inspector General of Police has approved the dismissal from the service of the Nigeria Police Force, three Inspectors namely: (i) AP/No. 18858 Inspr Godwin Musa (ii) AP/No. 225812 Inspr Sada Abubakar and (iii) AP/No. 225828 Inspr Yabo Paul, and the immediate interdiction of AP. No 158460 ASP David Dominic who were involved in the unauthorised, illegal and unprofessional misconduct in the search of the residence of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, in Asokoro, Abuja on September 4, 2018.

“Ap. No. 158460 ASP David Dominic was queried and being investigated for discreditable conduct, negligence of duty and an act unbecoming of a police officer, which constitute serious misconduct and if not checked can be inimical to the image of the Nigeria Police Force and violation of fundamental human rights of the elder statesman as provided for in the 1999 Constitution as amended. The gravity of the offences against the officer is serious in nature and dismissal from service is imminent.

“Consequently, the Inspector General of Police approved that AP. No 158460 ASP David Dominic, be on interdiction from service pending the determination of his case by the Police Service Commission.

“The IG also approved and upheld the dismissal from service of (i) AP/No. 18858 Inspr Godwin Musa (ii) AP/No. 225812 Inspr Sada Abubakar and (iii) AP/No. 225828 Inspr Yabo Paul, after the trio were tried under Oath in Orderly Room Trial for discreditable conduct, illegal duty, disobedience to lawful order and other misconduct contrary to the rule of law.

“The suspect (informant), Ismail Yakubu, from Waru Village, Apo District, Abuja, has been charged to Upper Area Court Mpape, Abuja for giving false information and telling falsehood that misled police action.”

Clark Petitions Buhari, NSA

Meanwhile, Clark has petitioned both President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd,), over the illegal and unauthorised search of his residence by the four officers.
Though the elder statesman said he had accepted the public apology of the police, nonetheless he wants the matter to be thoroughly investigated and the real mastermind of the raid exposed.

The South-south leader alleged that Deputy Commissioner of Police Yusuf Kolo, Commander of the IG Special Tactical Squad and Assistant Inspector General of Police (Federal Intelligence), Umoru Usman, were those who ordered the raid and search on his residence.

In the petitions with reference No KACCL/PET/KA/76/18 and dated September 6, 2018 signed by his lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, Clark wondered why the police authorities, who are in the know of the masterminds and conspirators of the invasion, are going after the four junior officers, who were merely carrying out instructions from their superiors.
“It will be rather unfortunate for junior officers and men of the IG Tactical squad who were at best acting on the orders of their superiors to fall prey in this regard,” he said in the petition.

Ajulo stressed that Clark had been a frontline advocate against taking up of arms by the youths of the Niger-Delta and has been responsible for brokering peace between the Niger-Delta and several administrations in Nigeria.
In leading the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the lawyer said Clark had joined other stakeholders to put a halt to youth restiveness and wanton destruction of oil pipelines in the region and ultimately restore peace, thereby increasing production of Nigeria’s sustenance in oil production and encouraging foreign participation.

He said the invasion of his Asokoro-Abuja residence has since fanned wrong embers, caused uproar and pandemonium in the Niger-Delta of which “our clients and others have been assiduously working to curtail.”