Tafa Balogun deserves presidential pardon –Policemen

Mustafa Adebayo Balogun became the Inspector- General of Police in March 2002. He was responsible for police security during the April 2003 national elections, which were marred by reports of police abuses. In 2004, allegations of corruptions were leveled against Balogun. 

Part of the allegation claimed that Balogun pocketed public money and took bribes from politicians, criminals and policemen. These led to his forced retirement in January 2005.
On 4 April 2005, Balogun was arraigned on charges involving about N13 billion obtained through money laundering, theft and other sources. The EFCC, under the leadership of Nuhu Ribadu, brought 70 charges against Balogun.
He later made a plea bargain with the court in exchange for returning most of the property and money. He was sentenced to six months in jail. He was released on 9 February 2006. Since the incident, Balogun became a hermit.
While other ex- IGPs were always seen at public functions, Balogun shunned such functions. Whenever he was bold enough to show his face at any occasion, usually, a police event, policemen present would carry him shoulder high, chanting that he was the best Inspector-General of Police.
Many of them claimed that during Balogun’s tenure, he promoted a lot of senior police officers and rank and files. Now, the wife of a former Inspector- General of Police, Hajia Amne Kam-Salem, has joined hundreds of policemen, pleading that a presidential pardon be given to Balogun.
Kam-Salem’s husband, Mohammed Kam-Salam, was the longest serving IGP whose administration spanned 1966 to 1975. According to Kam-Salem, a presidential pardon to Balogun, whom she referred to as her son, would ensure he began to contribute to various reforms in the police and security sector. Describing Balogun as a seasoned policeman, Kam-Salam, said that many families and policemen would remain grateful to Balogun for his generosity and promotions.
She said: “We left office in 1975. Balogun came in as IGP 27 years later. There were other IGPs before him, but they didn’t remember me and my children. But Balogun re-membered. The police authority owned me several million of naira from contract of food stuff supply to Police College. It was when I cried to Balogun that he ordered that I should be paid.
This notwithstanding, Balogun, even as a Yoruba man, is a former IGP that impressed with his brilliancy. This man has a lot to contribute to reforming the Nigeria Police.
The president should forgive him.” A serving police officer, Mr. Illya Isoho Adamu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said he was one of the beneficiaries of Balogun’s promotions through merit and performance. Adamu said that Balogun’s problem with Obasanjo administration started after he was alleged to be tilting towards a prominent politician in the country.
Adamu said: “I call on Buhari to take a second look at the event that led to the conviction of Balogun, who moved the force from a moribund level to a functional one.”
Adamu said that a presidential pardon would enable Balogun to begin to share experiences acquired through his years as a policeman. These experiences, might help in checking various violent crimes in Nigeria, said Adamu. “Balogun can help in giving advice on ways to curtail security challenges confronting the country,” said Adamu. Adamu said that Balogun’s exploits as the number one policeman during his tenure, were remarkable.
He added: “Criminals such as Ahadi Tijani, a trans-border armed robber and his Nigerian colleague, Mr. Shina Rambo, who terrorised Lagos and Ogun states were stopped by Balogun methodology in checking crimes and criminalities. What of the famous Otokoto Hotel? In that hotel, human parts were served as meat.
He busted the hotel. We were witnesses to the destruction of Okija Shrine during the days of Balogun.
He is a consummate police officer who emerged as the best graduating student from the prestigious war college.”
Adamu argued that Balogun is an asset to the force and the entire Nigeria as a whole. He said that Buhari should ensure that the police and other security stakeholders tap from Balogun’s wealth of experiences.
A police inspector, Mr. Thank- God Ewurum, urged Buhari to grant Balogun pardon because of the love police officers, especially the rank and files, have for him. According to Ewurum, anywhere Balogun goes, policemen and women would carry his shoulder high, praising him as their best IGP.
Ewurum said: “He remains one of the most intelligent IGP’s in Nigeria. He took care of our welfare. That is why we want him to bounce back. A presidential pardon will achieve this bounce back to public service and public eyes.”
 http://newtelegraphonline.com/tafa-balogun-deserves-presidential-pardon-policemen/