SANs honour Police boss for rejecting bribes

… award N1m scholarship to kids

Eminent members of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) from the Warri, Udu, and Effurun branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have honoured Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Aliyu Shaba for rejecting bribes and other forms of corruption often associated with policing in Nigeria. 

At the ceremony, the senior lawyers, who commended the officer for his anti-corruption stance and exemplary service in the Nigeria Police Force, presented ACP Shaba with a N1 million scholarship award, tenable by any of his children in the university, in recognition of his widely acknowledged meritorious service.

Shaba, the immediate past Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ekpan Police Station and now the Area Commander of Ughelli Command, had earlier won both the Divisional Police Officer of the Year and the Police Officer of the Year awards at the maiden Nigeria Police Award and Commendation ceremony held on April 15, 2024, in Abuja.

Before his deployment to Ekpan, the community was notorious as a haven for criminal activity. 

He was widely credited with restoring order and enabling residents to “sleep with their two eyes closed.”

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The Thursday evening event, the first of its kind in the Niger Delta, was held in Ekpan, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, and attracted notable members of the inner and outer bar, as well as judges of the Delta State Judiciary.

Among the dignitaries present were two former NBA Presidents, Chief Thompson Joseph Okpoko, SAN, and Augustine Alegeh, SAN, alongside Kunle Edun, SAN, a former National Publicity Secretary of the NBA.

Others included Chief Efe Akpofure, SAN; Charles Ajuyah, SAN; Ama Etuwewe, SAN; Ayo Asala, SAN; and Sir Victor Akpoguma, SAN-designate. Current and past chairmen of the NBA Warri, Udu, and Effurun branches, senior bar members, Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, and the Commanding Officer of the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, were also in attendance.

Presenting the award, Chief Okpoko explained, “The programme was organised following reports of ACP Shaba’s outstanding performance, and we felt we should acknowledge what is good. Good work must be commended and rewarded.

“We also decided to support him with a N1 million scholarship fund for his children, so that they too may grow up to become good Nigerians. 

“Even though corruption has pervaded virtually all strata of society, we need officers like Shaba to lead the campaign in the Police Force. If there is nobody ready to receive bribes, there will be nobody to give them.”

Also speaking, Alegeh, SAN, delivered a paper titled The Nigeria Police Force and Public Perception, urging police officers to emulate Shaba’s diligence and commitment to rejecting bribes.

“We are celebrating excellence, and we hope this will inspire more officers to be excellent. The message to serving officers is simple: if you do a good job, you will be recognised.

Life has meaning if we all give our best in our own space. The Senior Advocates have set an example by rewarding excellence, and we believe this recognition will encourage others to do the same, or even better.”

In his response, a visibly elated ACP Shaba expressed surprise at the recognition  “I never saw it coming. I am highly delighted to have Senior Advocates of Nigeria, my Commissioner of Police, and well-meaning citizens of Delta State come together to honour me.

This shows that when you do good things, people are watching. I was only doing my best to fight crime and injustice. I never expected a reward; I simply wanted communities where I serve to sleep peacefully.”

He urged fellow officers to shun corruption and serve diligently.

“This award is a reminder to my colleagues: put in your best, not for rewards, but because it is the right thing.

“Crime does not pay. Whatever you do, people will speak about it. Let them speak well of you. If we all do what is right, the world will be a better place,” he concluded. 

 

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE