A new lease of life beckons in Rivers State, going by Police Commissioner Tunde Ogunsakin’s pledge.
Ogunsakin, described as a tough cop, was in charge of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), in Lagos until last Thursday, when he was transferred to the Rivers Police Command.
He will take the reins this week from Mbu Joseph Mbu.
Mbu was under attack for allegedly taking sides in the Rivers State political crisis, which has pitched Governor Rotimi Amaechi against Education Minister NyesomWike.
Mbu has always defended himself, saying he is a professional.
“I’m going to do my professional work and create an environment for the peaceful conduct of election,” Ogunsakin told our correspondent on the phone at the weekend.
He also vowed to be fair to all.
If he lives up to his pledge, Rivers State may return to the path of peace and harmonious relationship between the police leadership in the state and the state government.
Civil society groups, opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Assembly and other categories of Nigerians repeatedly called for Mbu’s redeployment on account of the clashes between the erstwhile Commissioner of Police and the state government.
Ogunsakin was appointed CP SFU in 2009, before that, he was the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Info-tech, at the Force Headquarters.
He had also served as Director of Operations of EFCC from June 2008 to May 2009. He is a former Director of Operations at the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He attended L.A Primary School, Ikere-Ekiti, Annunciation College, Ikere-Ekiti. The University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now ObafemiAwolowo University) where he graduated in 1980 with a degree in Political Science/History.
He enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 1982.
He cut his ‘professional teeth’ in 1984 in Ibadan as the Divisional Crime Officer, in charge of Bodija. In 1985, he received his anti-riot Mobile Police Training at Gwoza, Borno State.
He was the Unit Commander No. 4 Squadron, Ibadan before he joined the Interpol Lagos as a detective Superintendent in 1989.
