Published 11th Feb, 2025

By Tola Owoyele

On Tuesday, the Federal Government confirmed the appointment of Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin (Rtd.) as secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Board (CDCFIB).

Jibrin once defended infamous military ruler Sani Abacha and claimed the dictator he served “meant well” for Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu nominated Jibrin for appointment on February 3.

Jibrin takes over from Ja’afaru Ahmed, the former Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).

In his new role, Jibrin is expected to play a significant part in the board’s tasks of ensuring the discipline, promotion, recruitment and appointment of officers across all the paramilitary agencies under the Federal Ministry of Interior.

Jibrin was a former aide-de-camp (ADC) to Abacha, who was Nigeria’s Head of State for the majority of the 1990s.

While entertaining an interview in 2017, Jibrin described Abacha as a simple and humane individual who meant well for Nigeria.

“He (Abacha) meant well for this country but the politics within the military tended to portray him differently,” Jibrin said.

“Before I worked with him, there was a general belief that he was a dreaded and feared person. However, I realised that he was simple but disciplined.

“He had an aura of respect, when people saw him, they felt intimidated. However, behind his hard look and dark glasses laid a gentle and humane individual who cared not only for his family and staff but for the common man.

“He was upright and didn’t like lies. When he died, people realised that he meant well for this country.”

After Abacha died in 1998, The New York Times described him as a military dictator who asserted his authority through the use of fiat, intimidation, brutality, torture, oppression, suppression, arrests and assassinations.

Abacha was also known for looting the country’s treasury of more than $1.5 billion.

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