As 24-hr ultimatum to re-arrest suspect expires… NSA raises secret panel to probe Ringim

The panel came just as Ringim responded to a query issued to him by Police Affairs Minister Caleb Olubolade, asking him to explain within 24 hours how the suspect escaped in Abaji, Abuja while he was being escorted by police on a search mission to his residence. Olubolade revealed the setting up of the panel […]

The panel came just as Ringim responded to a query issued to him by Police Affairs Minister Caleb Olubolade, asking him to explain within 24 hours how the suspect escaped in Abaji, Abuja while he was being escorted by police on a search mission to his residence. Olubolade revealed the setting up of the panel to journalists yesterday at the State House, Abuja. He said the panel whose composition he did not reveal, is made up of senior military officers and personnel from the Ministry of Police Affairs and has about one week to turn in its report.

 

Olubolade had indicated last Wednesday that the IGP had been given 24 hours to re-arrest the suspect. All the policemen involved in the operation have since been ordered to be detained including Zakari Biu, the Commissioner of Police who led the operation. The Minister indicated that rather than sack Ringim the panel would be allowed to complete its assignment first to determine the complicity of those involved in the escape saga. He said, “I have given some directives. The Inspector General of Police has responded. A committee has been set up above the police which takes into cognizance experts in various aspects to come together and conduct another investigation. So, that is being assembled and they have been set up to work. I think this is how far we have gone.”

He said even though the IGP has responded to the query, it was now the responsibility of the new committee to determine the correctness of his position. Olubolade, who conceded that Ringim has survived the 24-hour ultimatum even though he has not produced the suspect, noted that “one thing is to explain and another thing is to look at the content of those explanations.” He urged  Nigerians calling for the sack of the Ringim to exercise patience and allow the panel to conclude its assignment.

In a related development, the police have denied arresting and detaining the wife of Sokoto. Deputy Force Public Relations Officer Yemi Ajayi said: “Police did not detain the suspect’s wife. We don’t do proxy arrests.”