By JACOB KUBEKA, Abuja –
As the search for a new Chairman to succeed the suspended former Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu gathers momentum, there are feelers that a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) from Benue State,Mr. Austin Iornongu Iwar is favoured to clinch the job.
It was gathered from dependable police sources that Iwar who after retirement from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) last year, now consults for the British Council in Abuja as a Senior Policing Advisor, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption flaunts an intimidating Curriculum Vitae and is well grounded in anti–fraud cases, making him a top contender for the EFFC number one job.
According to one of the sources, the retired AIG played an active role in unraveling those behind the collapse of banks in Nigeria during the late General Sani Abacha era, making him the poster boy at Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos where most Bank Executives and high flying Bank Customers were detained.
Apart from his exploits at unraveling the cases that led to the collapse of the banks at that time, he, at various times, served as Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa,Kaduna and Gombe States where he exhibited high standards of professionalism in the discharge of his duties.
His colleagues attest to the fact that because of his dexterity in discharging his assigned responsibilities, the retired AIG was appointed as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the IGP from August 2014 to September 2015 during which he executed these assignments amongst others:
Facilitated major reforms in the NPF; Strengthening and restructuring operational departments with functional focus and proper role description; development of the NPF Investment Section leading to the development of key investment components, development of and upgrading guidance/policy documents, successful development & implementation of Human Rights Practice Manual & Human Rights Desk Officers Handbook and facilitated and created
a more focused working relationship with international donor agencies especially DFID/British Council culminating in the merger of J4A Programmes and IGP objectives.
Despite his impressive record of achievements and primed for the job, it was learnt that a power bloc which has the eras of the Presidency is bent on halting the appointment as it has already short-listed an unnamed retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) from Kano State for the position. Prior to this, it was gathered that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami in his letter to the president alleging series of malfeasance against the suspended Ibrahim Magu, had penciled down four names as Magu’s likely successor but as at press time, their names remained a top secret.
Observers are however of the view that the Presidency must begin with the EFCC to balance key appointments in the country to reflect national character even as they note that headship of the anti-graft agency has always been held by members of one religion.
Iwar holds B.Sc in International Relations, M.Sc (Police Leadership and Management) and PhD (in view) Policing, Security and Community Safety among several other professional courses.
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Source: nationalaccordnewspaper.com
