Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau

General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (born March 14, 1954) is a Nigerian politician and military general who served as Chief of Army Staff between 2008 and 2010; and in President Muhammadu Buhari's Cabinet as Minister of the Interior from 2015 to 2019.

Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau
Minister of the Interior
In office
November 2015 – May 2019
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byPatrick Abba Moro
Succeeded byRauf Aregbesola
Chief of Army Staff
In office
2008–2010
Preceded byLuka Yusuf
Succeeded byAzubuike Ihejirika
Personal details
Born (1954-03-14) 14 March 1954
Zaria, Northern Region, British Nigeria
(now Zaria, Nigeria)
Alma materBarewa College
Nigerian Defence Academy
Kent State University
University of Keele
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Army
Years of service1977 - 2010
RankLieutenant General

Early life

Family

Dambazau was born in Zaria to a Fulani military family of the Dambazawa clan. His father served in the Colonial Army, and his brothers held senior posts in the army. He also holds the traditional title of Barden Kano.[1]

Education

Dambazau's secondary education took place at Barewa College, Zaria where he graduated from in 1974. In 1979, Dambazau attended the US Army Military Police School, Fort McClellan. Dambazau later obtained a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Kent State University in 1982 and a PhD in Criminology from University of Keele in 1989.[2]

Military career

In 1974, he proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 17 Regular Combatant Course. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in June 1977.

Command

Dambazau served as a military police officer, Aide de Camp to the Chief of Army Staff (1979), commanded military police units and served as a Special Investigator (1984-1985). Dambazau was Registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy from 1993 to 1999. He also served as Chief Instructor, Support Weapon Wing of the Infantry Centre and School from 1999 to 2001 and later as Directing Staff at the National War College from 2004 to 2006. From 2007 to 2008, he served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2nd Division, Ibadan.[3]

Chief of Army Staff

He was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 2008 by President Umaru Yar'Adua.[4] Towards the end of the Yar'Adua administration[5][6], the army was accused of attempts to covertly seize power due to Yar'Adua's illness.[7] After Yar'Adua's death, Dambazau was retired from service by President Goodluck Jonathan.[8]

Political career

Following his retirement in 2010, Dambazau went into politics, later joining the All Progressives Congress (APC). During the 2015 presidential election, he was the head of the security committee of the APC campaign organisation, he later lost out to be appointed National Security Adviser.[9]

Interior minister

In November 2015, he was appointed Minister of the Interior by President Muhammadu Buhari.[10] In 2019, he was removed as interior minister after an investigation found him guilty of "abuse of office".[11]

Controversies

Contract fraud

During his time as Chief of Army Staff, Dambazau was implicated in a contracts fraud scandal.[5]

U.S. real estate

In 2016, an investigation by Sahara Reporters showed that Dambazau owned an estimated US$3 million in U.S real estate.[12]

Shoe shining incident

In a viral video, an SSS operative was shown shining Dambazau's shoes at a public event.[13]

References
  1. "Kano Emir confers traditional titles on Dambazau, others". Vanguard News. 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  2. Eterno & Das. Police Practices in Global Perspective. Rowman & Littlefield, 2010. p. 259. ISBN 9781442200241.
  3. Adefaye, Gbenga. "Dambazau: What the army thinks". Vanguard Nigeria. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  4. Siollun, Max. "Profile of Nigeria's New Military Service Chiefs". Max Siollun's Website. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  5. siteadmin (2010-02-23). "UPDATED: The Turai Coup D'etat: How Turai Yar'Adua seized power". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  6. "Dambazau: What the army thinks". Vanguard News. 2010-03-13. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  7. da Costa, Gilbert (31 January 2010). "Nigerians Wonder: Could a Military Coup Help Us?". Time Magazine.
  8. Editor (2010-09-10). "How Dambazzau got news of his removal". The newafricanpress. Retrieved 2020-04-28.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  9. "EXCLUSIVE: How Dambazau lost out in NSA race". TheCable. 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  10. Ekott, Ini. "UPDATED: Buhari assigns Ministers; Fashola heads Power and Works, Amaechi gets Transportation". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  11. "Why Buhari Dropped Ex-Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau". The Whistler NG. 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  12. siteadmin (2016-07-22). "Buhari's Minister Of Interior Dambazau Owns $3Million Dollars In Real Estate In The US, Billions In Abuja". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  13. "VIDEO: Nigeria's Interior minister, Dambazau, converts SSS officer to "shoe shiner" - Premium Times Nigeria". 2016-01-16. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
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