ABUJA — There were indications in Abuja, yesterday, that the Federal Government may have abandoned the idea of prosecuting dismissed Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Zakari Biu, over the escape of Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Sokoto, the alleged mastermind of the Christmas day bombing in Madalla, Niger State that killed about 47 people.
It would be recalled that the Police Service Commission, PSC, dismissed the officer who was in charge of Boko Haram investigations last month after the report of the Force Disciplinary Committee, FDC, which tried him recommended that he be compulsorily retired or dismissed for negligence of duty which resulted in Sokoto’s escape near Abaji.
This was after former Inspector General of Police, Mr Hafiz Ringim, queried and suspended CP Biu and put him under house arrest, after which he was taken to a Police detention facility.
Vanguard was told, yesterday, that the authorities had dumped the idea of prosecuting him because some discrepancies in the manner he was dismissed might have been discovered. It was learnt that the allegation of criminal negligence of duty could not be proved but rather that of administrative negligence which does not require prosecution.
Moreover, it was gathered that Zakari Biu’s dismissal coupled with his argument that he lost his son, a senior operative of EFCC, to terrorists bombings on October 1, 2010 and as such would never have colluded to let a confirmed Boko Haram kingpin escape, were enough punishments and that further prosecuting him was akin to double tragedy.
The source disclosed that the re-arrest of Sokoto and the confessions of the suspect that Zakari Biu was unaware of the plan to escape, has further helped Biu’s cause. It was also said that punishment for criminal negligence was usually severe while his dismissal or compulsory retirement if it had gone the other way, was considered commensurate for administrative negligence because of his rank.
The source added that justice could still be tempered with mercy and the dismissal commuted to retirement, if the officer appeals to the President and in his wisdom, he feels the officer deserves a soft landing after serving the nation for 35 years.
Biu was to have retired from service mandatorily on February 29, 2012 after 35 years of service with all his entitlements due him had the escape of the Boko Haram kingpin who was put under his care for investigation not occurred. His dismissal came two weeks to his retirement date.
It would be recalled that the Police Service Commission, PSC, dismissed the officer who was in charge of Boko Haram investigations last month after the report of the Force Disciplinary Committee, FDC, which tried him recommended that he be compulsorily retired or dismissed for negligence of duty which resulted in Sokoto’s escape near Abaji.
Zakari Biu
Vanguard was told, yesterday, that the authorities had dumped the idea of prosecuting him because some discrepancies in the manner he was dismissed might have been discovered. It was learnt that the allegation of criminal negligence of duty could not be proved but rather that of administrative negligence which does not require prosecution.
Moreover, it was gathered that Zakari Biu’s dismissal coupled with his argument that he lost his son, a senior operative of EFCC, to terrorists bombings on October 1, 2010 and as such would never have colluded to let a confirmed Boko Haram kingpin escape, were enough punishments and that further prosecuting him was akin to double tragedy.
The source disclosed that the re-arrest of Sokoto and the confessions of the suspect that Zakari Biu was unaware of the plan to escape, has further helped Biu’s cause. It was also said that punishment for criminal negligence was usually severe while his dismissal or compulsory retirement if it had gone the other way, was considered commensurate for administrative negligence because of his rank.
The source added that justice could still be tempered with mercy and the dismissal commuted to retirement, if the officer appeals to the President and in his wisdom, he feels the officer deserves a soft landing after serving the nation for 35 years.
Biu was to have retired from service mandatorily on February 29, 2012 after 35 years of service with all his entitlements due him had the escape of the Boko Haram kingpin who was put under his care for investigation not occurred. His dismissal came two weeks to his retirement date.
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