Social watchers are recommending the arrest of the top police boss. The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, on Saturday accused Okiro of being one of the culprits of the failed banks saga. He was said to have obtained the loan between 2000 and 2001 to execute a pipeline laying contract he won from Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, which he failed to pay back.

Reacting to this development, a Lagos lawyer, Paul Ogundele, told AfricaNews that forgery is a serious criminal offence, therefore Okiro should be investigated and if the allegation turned out to be true, the IGP should be prosecuted, the same way a former IGP, Tafa Balogun was prosecuted.

“No Nigerian, apart from the few who enjoy immunity, is above the law,” he added.
Another lawyer, Supo Osewa, in his reaction said if the allegation of forgery against Okiro is correct, then he is culpable under the relevant laws of the country, because, “It is very wrong of him to engage in the act of forgery. Therefore, he should be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Sanction

The former secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos branch, Barrister Ike Ukor said: “When anybody makes false statement claiming it to be true, that amounts to a criminal offence, especially when a document is forged. Forgery is against the law, it is a criminal offence. Therefore if the allegation is found to be true, Okiro should be sanctioned.”

Barrister Alex Uzegu said Okiro, who retires from the force on Monday, should be compelled to resign immediately and submit himself for investigation. “This is the only way the confidence and integrity of the Nigerian Police can be restored. For now, the integrity of the force is tainted with this allegation of forgery. Moreover, Okiro as the IGP has no immunity under our law. The earlier he resigns for the coast of investigation to be clear, the better,” he said.

Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Campaign for Democracy, CD, said the revelation by the NDIC on the country’s police boss portends grave danger to the country. According to her, “it shows our leaders have skeletons in their cupboards. It means this culture of impunity with which they have been treating Nigerians continue. If it’s true that Okiro forged a document, then he should be arrested immediately and prosecuted”.