Frank Mba bows out after 34 years, PSC screens seven AIGs for DIG rank

By Kingsley Omonobi

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Training and Development at Force Headquarters, DIG Frank Mba, has voluntarily retired from the Nigeria Police Force after 34 years of service.

Mba’s retirement comes alongside those of some other senior officers following the recent retirement of former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the appointment of IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu as the new head of the force.

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has invited seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) for promotion interviews to the rank of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), ahead of their possible elevation to the Force Management Team that will work with the new Inspector-General.

The AIGs invited for the promotion interviews are Margareth Ochalla, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, Ishiaku Mohammed, Zacharia Fera Achinyan, Zango Ibrahim Baba, Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman, and Umar Shehu Nadada.

According to the PSC, the officers are expected to appear for the interview at the commission’s office on Friday.

DIG Mba, a former Force Public Relations Officer and Lagos State Police Command spokesman, joined the Nigeria Police Force in May 1992 as a cadet officer. He distinguished himself early in his career by graduating as the best cadet in academics at the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano.

A frontline member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mba obtained a law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 after attending the Nigerian Law School in Abuja. He later earned a Master’s degree in Law with distinction from the University of Dundee in Scotland.

Over the years, he also attended several international professional programmes, including the FBI National Academy in Quantico, United States, as well as leadership courses at Harvard University and the University of Oxford.

Mba represented Nigeria in international assignments, including the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia between 2006 and 2007.

During his career, he served in several strategic roles across operations, investigations, administration and public relations. His postings included Area Commander in Ajah and Festac in Lagos, Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Commissioner of Police in charge of the Border Patrol Force at Force Headquarters, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Panti, Lagos.

In a farewell message, Mba expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the nation during his administration.

“I am deeply grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the privilege of serving our great nation during his administration. The confidence reposed in the Nigeria Police leadership and the support given to the institution during this period have been invaluable,” he said.

“It has been a great honour for me to contribute my quota to the security and stability of our country.”

He also thanked Nigerians for their support throughout his years in service.

“I want to sincerely thank the good people of Nigeria for the trust, encouragement and cooperation they extended to me throughout my 34 years in service.

“Policing is a difficult but noble profession, and whatever success we recorded was made possible by the understanding and support of Nigerians. I leave the service with a heart full of gratitude and pride for having had the opportunity to serve,” Mba said.