Confusion as sacked Prisons boss seeks reinstatement

There is confusion among the management and employees of the Nigerian Prisons Service following moves by a former acting Controller-General of Prisons, Aminu Sule, to upturn his sacking from service.

It was learnt that Sule’s restoration into the service might precipitate a leadership crisis in the NPS, as the Deputy Controller-General, who is the most senior officer, cannot serve under the CG, Dr. Peter Ekpendu, his junior in rank.

The former CG, Ibrahim Zakari, handed over to Sule in July 2014 as he proceeded on retirement, but Sule, who acted as CG for a few months, was removed and Ekpendu was appointed as a substantive NPS boss by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Following his removal from office and subsequent retirement, Sule challenged the action in court, but the Federal Government sought an out-of-court settlement with him.

Our correspondent learnt the government agreed to reinstate him, but it could not be ascertained if he would be reinstated as CG or restored to his former rank as DCG.

It was gathered that the government was in a dilemma over the issue as it had yet to decide the rank to place Sule in view of the fact that all the top management positions in the NPS were occupied.

A source said, “Aminu Sule’s return would surely generate ripples in the prisons service because he cannot serve under the current CG, who is his junior. At the same time, you cannot ask Ekpendu to step aside for him.

“The moves to bring him back may precipitate a leadership crisis in the service because if Ekpendu is removed to pave the way for his appointment as CG, he might engage in vendetta against other senior officers who are also interested in the top job,” the source added.

Another source identified the Director-General, Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, as Sule’s “pillar of support” who he said had been working assiduously to ensure the reinstatement of the DCG.

“The DG, DSS, is Sule’s friend and course mate and he is the one that has been pushing for his reinstatement into the service, but the question on the lips of the management and staff of the service is: will he be reinstated as CG or as DCG?” the source said.

A senior NPS officer however faulted the planned reinstatement, saying Sule had spent eight years as DCG and deserved to be retired, according to Civil Service rules.