Zakari Biu, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of criminal investigations in Abuja, has been dismissed from the Nigerian Police.
His dismissal, which takes effect from February, 22, 2012, arises from his culpability in the escape of Kabiru Sokoto, the alleged mastermind of the Madalla Christmas day bombing that killed forty-four people.
In a statement, the PSC said: “The Police Service Commission, after due consideration of the role played by the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hassan Zakari Biu, in the escape of the Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, today 22nd February, 2012 approved the dismissal of Mr. Hassan Zakari Biu from the Nigeria Police Force with effect from February 22, 2012”.
A Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) made up of the former Deputy Inspectors General, DIGs, under former IGP, Hafiz Ringim, sat, tried him and made their recommendations to the Police Service Commission (PSC) before they were asked to go with Ringim by President Goodluck Jonathan last month.
Alhaji Zakari Biu appeared before the FDC on January 24, 2012 with five other Policemen, in whose custody Sokoto escaped, and charged with conspiracy and negligence of duty leading to Sokoto’s escape. The FDC sat behind closed doors at the Force Headquarters conference hall for over six hours.
His dismissal is the second in Biu's career as a police officer, his first, by the Obasanjo administration on account of his alleged involvement in the various state sponsored bombings and killings of the Abacha era.
A number of victims had fingered Zakari Biu, during the Oputa Panel committee setup to investigate Human Rights Abuses under Abacha administration, as one of those that were used by the former dictator through his Chief Security Officer, Major Almustapha (who has himself been found guilty of the murder of Alhaj Kudirat Abiola) to target members of the opposition then centered around the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, the murder of Bagauda Kaltho by bombing as well as the death (by bombing) of the then Chief Security Officer of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Omatsola.
Biu, a former Squad leader of the dreaded Abacha Strike force was recalled into the Police force by the Police Service Commission after about 10 years of being rendered redundant by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who said he could not work with someone with so many petitions about his human right records.
As the head of the anti-terrorism and explosives squad in the villa during Abacha’s tenure, it was suggested that the several bombing attacks during the period had the imprints of his office.
He was, however, reinstated by the Police Service Commission (PSC) who looked into his complaint, reviewed his years of service in the force and ruled that he was unlawfully sent away because there was no query or disciplinary offense committed by the officer. A move that pitched the Police hierarchy then against the PSC.
It will be recalled that Zakari Biu's son, Tahir Biu was killed at the October 2010 50th anniversary blast in Abuja.
His dismissal, which takes effect from February, 22, 2012, arises from his culpability in the escape of Kabiru Sokoto, the alleged mastermind of the Madalla Christmas day bombing that killed forty-four people.
In a statement, the PSC said: “The Police Service Commission, after due consideration of the role played by the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hassan Zakari Biu, in the escape of the Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, today 22nd February, 2012 approved the dismissal of Mr. Hassan Zakari Biu from the Nigeria Police Force with effect from February 22, 2012”.
A Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) made up of the former Deputy Inspectors General, DIGs, under former IGP, Hafiz Ringim, sat, tried him and made their recommendations to the Police Service Commission (PSC) before they were asked to go with Ringim by President Goodluck Jonathan last month.
Alhaji Zakari Biu appeared before the FDC on January 24, 2012 with five other Policemen, in whose custody Sokoto escaped, and charged with conspiracy and negligence of duty leading to Sokoto’s escape. The FDC sat behind closed doors at the Force Headquarters conference hall for over six hours.
His dismissal is the second in Biu's career as a police officer, his first, by the Obasanjo administration on account of his alleged involvement in the various state sponsored bombings and killings of the Abacha era.
A number of victims had fingered Zakari Biu, during the Oputa Panel committee setup to investigate Human Rights Abuses under Abacha administration, as one of those that were used by the former dictator through his Chief Security Officer, Major Almustapha (who has himself been found guilty of the murder of Alhaj Kudirat Abiola) to target members of the opposition then centered around the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, the murder of Bagauda Kaltho by bombing as well as the death (by bombing) of the then Chief Security Officer of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Omatsola.
Biu, a former Squad leader of the dreaded Abacha Strike force was recalled into the Police force by the Police Service Commission after about 10 years of being rendered redundant by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who said he could not work with someone with so many petitions about his human right records.
As the head of the anti-terrorism and explosives squad in the villa during Abacha’s tenure, it was suggested that the several bombing attacks during the period had the imprints of his office.
He was, however, reinstated by the Police Service Commission (PSC) who looked into his complaint, reviewed his years of service in the force and ruled that he was unlawfully sent away because there was no query or disciplinary offense committed by the officer. A move that pitched the Police hierarchy then against the PSC.
It will be recalled that Zakari Biu's son, Tahir Biu was killed at the October 2010 50th anniversary blast in Abuja.
