JUST IN: Buhari Extends Tenure of Prisons Chief, Ja’afaru Amidst Forgery Allegation

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved tenure extension for the Controller-General of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Ahmed Ja’afaru, by one year with effect from July 21, 2019.

The Ministry of Interior spokesman, Mohammed Manga, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, said Ja’afaru, whose tenure was to end on July 21, was recommended for the extension due to “his track record of innovative reforms in the Prisons Service.”

He further explained that the extension was also informed by the need to consolidate and complete some of the ongoing programmes especially on human rights compliance, reformation and health care, agricultural and education programmes for the inmates.

Mouthpiece NG recall CGP Jafaaru has been in media space following allegations by some members in service over his age falsification and embezzlement of some whopping amount in Edo prison. 

The controller was being accused of falsifying his age in the service records in order to extend his retirement age. 

“Ja’afaru was supposed to retire in July 2017, until sometimes in 2015, shortly before his appointment as CGP, he altered his date of birth from July 1957 to July 1959, in clear breach of the public service rules and regulations.”

“The record in the NPS nominal roll showed that Ja’afaru altered his date of birth from July 21, 1957, to July 21, 1959, thereby extending his retirement age by two years. His profile published in the 2010 edition of Advanced Command Course II booklet also confirmed July 21, 1957, as his original date of birth before it secretly altered.”

Tongues were also wagging among members of the NPS cooperative society over alleged embezzlement and  diversion of N563, 500, 000 million naira in Edo state prison. 

The members were calling on the Comptroller General, Jafaru Ahmed, the anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, as well as police to quickly investigate the massive looting. 

While congratulating the CG, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah, urged him to consolidate on the ongoing reforms in the Prisons Service in line with the policy thrust of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari “which is geared towards ushering the next-level of socio-economic development of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board has promoted 10 officers from the rank of Assistant Controllers and Commandants to the rank of Deputy Controllers/Commandants and Comptrollers-General across its four services.

The board in compliance with its guidelines on appointment, promotion and discipline had recently conducted examinations and interviews for the affected ranks in the respective services.

“Consequently, the President approved the promotion of the officers to their new ranks following their excellent performance in the examinations as well as interviews recently conducted by the board,” the statement noted.