–Five new CCB board members take oath

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, Wednesday, swore in the new chairman of the Police Service Commission, former Inspector-General of Police, Dr .Solomon Arase (retd).

Arase took his oath of office at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, in the presence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and other cabinet members.

Recall that the senate confirmed him as chairperson of the PSC two months ago.

Arase, 65, who retired in 2016, was the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police (between April 2015 and June 2016) and has served in various capacities including as head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the foremost intelligence-gathering unit of the Nigerian police.

Meanwhile President Buhari also swore-in five board members of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

They are Murtala Kankia from Katsina State (North-West); Zephaniah Bulus from Nasarawa State (North Central) Farouk Umar from Yobe State (North East), Taofeek Abdulsalam from Ondo State (South West) and Prof. Juwaria Badamasi from Kogi State (North Central).

FEC also observed a moment of silence in honour of Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya who died on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

Diya served as Chief of General Staff and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council under the Abacha regime.

Born on April 3, 1944 at Odogbolu in Ogun State, Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War.

He was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994.

As Chief of the General Staff, he was second in command and the de facto vice president of Nigeria under General Sani Abacha from 1994 to 1997.

After the swearing-in ceremony, President Buhari went on to preside over the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.