Solomon Arase relieved of duty as chair of Police Service Commission as Hashimu Argungu takes over
The reason for Arase’s removal from office was not disclosed. This decision follows an ICIR investigative report published in February that exposed Arase’s alleged involvement in the illegal sale of the lands
Solomon Arase, a former inspector general of police, has been relieved of duty as the chairperson of the Police Service Commission (PSC) by President Bola Tinubu.
The president replaced him with Hashimu Argungu, a retired deputy inspector general of police, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday.
The president also approved the appointment of Onyemuche Nnamani as secretary of the commission and Taiwo Lakanu, also a retired deputy inspector general of police, as member of the commission.
The statement did not disclose the reason for Mr Arase’s removal from office.
But this development comes up following an ICIR investigative report published in February that exposed Arase’s alleged involvement in the illegal sale of the lands through a contracting firm, Corpren International Limited, under the guise of developing the police residential estate.
The story was backed by evidence of affidavits and documents of ongoing litigation over the lands located in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The ICIR story also revealed that Mr Arase enabled Corpran International Limited to obtain nearly N1 billion from the Police Mortgage Bank without collateral.
It also accused Andy Chime, the owner of Corpran International Limited, of being used to dupe the NPF in the illegal deal.
Following the publication of the ICIR report, Mr Arase and Corpran International Limited instituted lawsuits against the newspaper and the reporter who authored the story.
Messrs Arase and Chime also wrote a petition to the Nigerian Police Force Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), accusing the journalists of cyberstalking and defamation of character – leading to the harassment of the journalists by the police.
Read the full statement from the presidency below:
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW LEADERSHIP FOR POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION AND NIGERIA POLICE TRUST FUND
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd) as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
The President has also approved the appointment of Chief Onyemuche Nnamani as Secretary and DIG Taiwo Lakanu (Rtd) as Member of the Commission.
The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Other members of the Police Service Commission will be appointed in due course.
Furthermore, the President has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Sheidu as the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) with immediate effect.
The President expects absolute demonstration of integrity, diligence, and patriotic zeal in the discharge of these important functions for the overall wellbeing of the Nigeria Police and the nation.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 10, 2024
