Ibrahim Coomassie
Encyclopedia
Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, was an Inspector General of Police of Nigeria
from 1993 to 1999, serving under the military governments of Generals Sani Abacha
and Abdulsalami Abubakar
.
Ibrahim Coomassie was born in Katsina State
on March 18, 1946. He was educated at the Provincial Secondary School, Zaria
, Barewa College, Zaria, the Detective Training College, Wakefield
, UK and Washington DC in the United States
.
In June 1994, president-elect M.K.O. Abiola
was arrested without warrant and detained by the police. He was mistreated in prison, where he was held for four years before dying in June 1998. Although head of police, Coomassie evaded responsibility for the detention.
In 1996, Coomassie launched an investigation into police actions during the military rule of General Ibrahim Babangida
(1985–1993).
In July 1997, Coomassie said he wanted to question the American Ambassador and members of the US Embassy staff about a series of bombings of military targets. The government had accused the National Democratic Coalition of responsibility, and said publicly that they suspected American diplomats knew about the bombings in advance.
In March 1998, Ibrahim Coomassie said that the press was misinterpreting a speech that head of state General Sani Abacha
had made in November 1997. He said General Abachi had promised to grant amnesty to some prisoners, but not to release political detainees.
At a police graduation ceremony in July 1998, Coomassie warned the new officers against corrupt practices, and said he had ordered the removal of all police roadblocks. However, the police roadblocks continued.
In 1998, Coomassie observed that any time a citizen became a public figure, his first act was to ask for an orderly and policement to guard his house, as a status symbol.
Sani Abacha died in June 1998, apparently of a heart attack. A federal government delegation led by Ibrahim Coomassie paid a formal condolence visit to Mrs. Abacha. During the visit, she accused a prominent member of the delegation of being responsible for Abacha's death, and asked Coomassie to arrest him.
In January 1999, Coomassie was part of a delegation that flew to Libya
, despite a UN ban on air travel to that country, and held talks with the Libyan Foreign Affairs Minister.
Ibrahim Coomassie retired from service and left with the Government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar
in May 1999.
in detention in December 1997, resulted in the arrest of Ibrahim Coomassie and other leading figures, including Mohammed Abacha
, the dictator's son.
Coomassie was placed under house arrest.
Coomassie was reportedly scheduled to appear before the police's Special Investigation Panel. However, later that month, Information Minister Dapo Sarumi denied reports that Coomassie was under arrest.
In August 2004, the Emir of Katsina appointed him to a committee to the development and growth of Jamaatul Nasir Islam's activities in the state.
He became a member of the board of trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum
for Katsina State
. The forum's mission is to protect the interest of Northern Nigeria and promote healthy co-existence that will sustain the environmental quality, livability, and economic vibrancy of the region.
In September 2008 he suffered serious injuries in a car accident, and spent some time in intensive care.
In August 2009, he donated about a million Naira worth of laboratory science equipment to the Police Boys secondary school, Mani
, in Katsina State.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
from 1993 to 1999, serving under the military governments of Generals Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
and Abdulsalami Abubakar
Abdulsalami Abubakar
General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar is a Nigerian general who was President of Nigeria from June 9, 1998 until May 29, 1999. He succeeded Sani Abacha upon Abacha's death. It was during Abubakar's leadership that Nigeria adopted its new constitution on May 5, 1999, which provided for multiparty...
.
Background
Ibrahim Coomassie was the eldest son of Malam Ahmadu Coomassie, an educationist and businessman who became a permanent secretary of the ministry of education in the Northern region.Ibrahim Coomassie was born in Katsina State
Katsina State
Katsina State is a state in northern Nigeria. Its capital is Katsina, and its governor is Ibrahim Shema, a member of the People's Democratic Party...
on March 18, 1946. He was educated at the Provincial Secondary School, Zaria
Zaria
Zaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family...
, Barewa College, Zaria, the Detective Training College, Wakefield
Wakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
, UK and Washington DC in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Inspector General of Police
In 1993, Ibrahim Coomassie was appointed Inspector General of the Nigerian police, succeeding Aliyu Atta.In June 1994, president-elect M.K.O. Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , often referred to as M. K. O. Abiola, was a popular Nigerian Yoruba businessman, publisher, politician and aristocrat of the Egba clan...
was arrested without warrant and detained by the police. He was mistreated in prison, where he was held for four years before dying in June 1998. Although head of police, Coomassie evaded responsibility for the detention.
In 1996, Coomassie launched an investigation into police actions during the military rule of General Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
(1985–1993).
In July 1997, Coomassie said he wanted to question the American Ambassador and members of the US Embassy staff about a series of bombings of military targets. The government had accused the National Democratic Coalition of responsibility, and said publicly that they suspected American diplomats knew about the bombings in advance.
In March 1998, Ibrahim Coomassie said that the press was misinterpreting a speech that head of state General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
had made in November 1997. He said General Abachi had promised to grant amnesty to some prisoners, but not to release political detainees.
At a police graduation ceremony in July 1998, Coomassie warned the new officers against corrupt practices, and said he had ordered the removal of all police roadblocks. However, the police roadblocks continued.
In 1998, Coomassie observed that any time a citizen became a public figure, his first act was to ask for an orderly and policement to guard his house, as a status symbol.
Sani Abacha died in June 1998, apparently of a heart attack. A federal government delegation led by Ibrahim Coomassie paid a formal condolence visit to Mrs. Abacha. During the visit, she accused a prominent member of the delegation of being responsible for Abacha's death, and asked Coomassie to arrest him.
In January 1999, Coomassie was part of a delegation that flew to Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, despite a UN ban on air travel to that country, and held talks with the Libyan Foreign Affairs Minister.
Ibrahim Coomassie retired from service and left with the Government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar
Abdulsalami Abubakar
General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar is a Nigerian general who was President of Nigeria from June 9, 1998 until May 29, 1999. He succeeded Sani Abacha upon Abacha's death. It was during Abubakar's leadership that Nigeria adopted its new constitution on May 5, 1999, which provided for multiparty...
in May 1999.
Later career
In October 1999, government investigations into abuses by the Abacha regime, including the assassination of Kudirat Abiola (wife of M.K.O. Abiola) in 1996 and the suspected murder of Shehu Musa Yar'AduaShehu Musa Yar'Adua
Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua was a Nigerian businessman, soldier, and politician. He was the older brother of former Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua. Following his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Sandhurst, England, Yar'Adua participated in the Nigerian Civil War...
in detention in December 1997, resulted in the arrest of Ibrahim Coomassie and other leading figures, including Mohammed Abacha
Mohammed Abacha
Mohammed Abacha is the eldest surviving son of Nigeria's former military dictator, the late General Sani Abacha, and Maryam Abacha.-Money laundering:During his father's military rule, Mohammed Abacha was involved in looting the government....
, the dictator's son.
Coomassie was placed under house arrest.
Coomassie was reportedly scheduled to appear before the police's Special Investigation Panel. However, later that month, Information Minister Dapo Sarumi denied reports that Coomassie was under arrest.
In August 2004, the Emir of Katsina appointed him to a committee to the development and growth of Jamaatul Nasir Islam's activities in the state.
He became a member of the board of trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum
Arewa Consultative Forum
The Arewa Consultative Forum is a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria formed in 2000 which has considerable influence in the political scene...
for Katsina State
Katsina State
Katsina State is a state in northern Nigeria. Its capital is Katsina, and its governor is Ibrahim Shema, a member of the People's Democratic Party...
. The forum's mission is to protect the interest of Northern Nigeria and promote healthy co-existence that will sustain the environmental quality, livability, and economic vibrancy of the region.
In September 2008 he suffered serious injuries in a car accident, and spent some time in intensive care.
In August 2009, he donated about a million Naira worth of laboratory science equipment to the Police Boys secondary school, Mani
Mani, Nigeria
Mani is a Local Government Area in Katsina State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Mani.It has an area of 784 km² and a population of 176,966 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 823....
, in Katsina State.