Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo
Encyclopedia
Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo was appointed Inspector General of the Nigerian Police
in July 2009 on the retirement of Mike Mbama Okiro
.
. He attended the University of Nigeria
, Nsukka
from 1972 - 1976, where he obtained a B.Sc Political Science.
He joined the police force in August 1977 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police and rose steadily through the ranks, becoming Commissioner of Police in April 1997 and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in May 2001. His first postings were in Rivers State
, with later positions in Imo State
, Lagos
, Edo State
, Adamawa State
and Ogun State
.
Between 1998 and 2000 he was chairman/chief executive officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA). He was promoted to Deputy Inspector General on 14 March 2002, and served three Inspector Generals (Tafa Balogun
, Sunday Ehindero
and Mike Okiro) in that role. He was briefly the acting Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force in 2007, before Mike Okiro was appointed to the IG post.
On August 5, 2009 the Nigeria Police Council confirmed Onovo as the substantive Inspector General of Police.
In August 2009, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo said that aide de camps (ADC’s) attached to governors or political office holders would be allowed to spend no more than three years on that assignment, after which they must return to the force. He also announced a campaign to deploy mobile police officers to address the high rate of kidnapping in Anambra State
and the entire South East.
In late July 2009, members of the extremist Boko Haram
sect went on the rampage in five Northern States of Nigeria, attacking several police stations. During the violence, Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the Boko Haram, was captured and died in police custody, reportedly when he was trying to escape.
On August 5, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo summoned the five Commissioners of Police in the North East to explain police involvement in the death.
In September 2009, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo declared the 20 police who had died trying to maintain order "National Heroes" and presented cheques to their families in compensation.
Nigeria Police Force
The Nigeria Police formerly known as the Nigeria Police Force is the national police of Nigeria.-Authority:The Nigeria Police Force is designated by Section 194 of the 1979 constitution as the national police of Nigeria with exclusive jurisdiction throughout the country...
in July 2009 on the retirement of Mike Mbama Okiro
Mike Mbama Okiro
Sir Mike Mbama Okiro was the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force from 2007 - 2009.-Background:Mike Okiro was born on July 24, 1949 in Oguta, Imo State...
.
Background
Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo was born on 7 February 1953 in Nkanu Local Government Area of Enugu StateEnugu State
Enugu State is a mainland state in southeastern Nigeria. Its capital is Enugu, from which the state - created in 1991 from the old Anambra State - derives its name. The principal cities in the state are Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Oji, and Nsukka....
. He attended the University of Nigeria
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has four campuses – Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla – located in Enugu State and one in Aba, Abia...
, Nsukka
Nsukka
Nsukka is a town and Local Government Area in South-East Nigeria in Enugu State. Other towns that share common border with Nsukka, such as Enugu Ezike, Orba and Obollo-Afor , Ede-Oballa, Uzo Uwani and Mkpologwu, now also claim the name Nsukka, hence they all collectively fall into the political...
from 1972 - 1976, where he obtained a B.Sc Political Science.
He joined the police force in August 1977 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police and rose steadily through the ranks, becoming Commissioner of Police in April 1997 and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in May 2001. His first postings were in Rivers State
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
, with later positions in Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
, Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Edo State
Edo State
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...
, Adamawa State
Adamawa State
Adamawa is a state in northeastern Nigeria, with its capital at Yola. It was formed in 1991 from part of Gongola State with four administrative divisions namely: Adamawa, Ganye, Mubi and Numan. It is one of the thirty-six States which constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria.-Geography:Adamawa...
and Ogun State
Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the South, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state...
.
Between 1998 and 2000 he was chairman/chief executive officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is a Federal agency in Nigeria charged with eliminating the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, and trafficking of hard drugs. The agency was established by Decree Number 48 of January l990. The NDLEA is present in international...
(NDLEA). He was promoted to Deputy Inspector General on 14 March 2002, and served three Inspector Generals (Tafa Balogun
Mustafa Adebayo Balogun
Mustafa Adebayo Balogun, widely known as Tafa Balogun, was appointed Inspector General of the Nigerian Police in March 2002 and was forced to retire because of widespread charges of corruption in January 2005.-Background:...
, Sunday Ehindero
Sunday Ehindero
-Background:Sunday Ehindero originated from Oyin-Akoko . He attended Gboluji Grammer school in Ondo State, obtained a Bachelors of Science degree from University of Ibadan and a Law Degree from the Nigerian Law School. He started his career as teacher in Abeokuta, Ogun State and transitioned into...
and Mike Okiro) in that role. He was briefly the acting Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force in 2007, before Mike Okiro was appointed to the IG post.
Inspector General of Police
At the ceremony where he formally assumed the acting IGP post in July 2009, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo promised continuity with the direction set by his predecessor. He said "we will ensure we have a stable and secure society with crime brought down to the barest minimum by initiating new crime fighting strategies and employing our greatest assets, manpower through well motivated measures."On August 5, 2009 the Nigeria Police Council confirmed Onovo as the substantive Inspector General of Police.
In August 2009, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo said that aide de camps (ADC’s) attached to governors or political office holders would be allowed to spend no more than three years on that assignment, after which they must return to the force. He also announced a campaign to deploy mobile police officers to address the high rate of kidnapping in Anambra State
Anambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
and the entire South East.
In late July 2009, members of the extremist Boko Haram
Boko Haram
Boko Haram is a Nigerian Islamist group that seeks the imposition of Shariah law throughout the whole of Nigeria. The group presently has an undefined structure and chain of command...
sect went on the rampage in five Northern States of Nigeria, attacking several police stations. During the violence, Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of the Boko Haram, was captured and died in police custody, reportedly when he was trying to escape.
On August 5, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo summoned the five Commissioners of Police in the North East to explain police involvement in the death.
In September 2009, Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo declared the 20 police who had died trying to maintain order "National Heroes" and presented cheques to their families in compensation.