Draft:James Danbaba

James Danbaba was born on the 30th of January 1943 in Bille, Demsa Local Government, Adamawa. He was a former Commissioner of Police under the Abacha military regime. Danbaba joined the Nigeria Police as a Cadet Sub-Inspector in 1963 and rose to the rank of Commissioner of Police until his retirement in 1998. He served all over the country in various capacities as a police officer. Most notable in Lagos where he was assigned with the task of eradicating incessant robberies in the state and other southwest states, i.e, Oyo state. Danbaba loved his job as an amiable but thorough police officer. He held Lagos in the palm of his hand at a time when broad daylight armed robbery was the order of the day, and he faced the hoodlums expertly and with frustration because according to him "no sooner did you charge the robbers to court, than they were sprung out of jail to confront us on the streets of Lagos". Danbaba was a Nigerian commissioner of police

James Danbaba was arrested in 1999 on the orders of then president Olusegun Obasanjo and charged as an accessory to the murder of Kudirat Abiola, the wife of a former presidential candidate, MKO Abiola in November of the same year. The former commissioner of police was charged alongside former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi;Major Al-Mustapha; Mr. Mohammed Abacha and Mohammed Aminu. After several trials and 11 years in jail, Mr Danbaba was acquitted and released on the 22nd of December, 2010.

Death Mr Danbaba died on the 7th of August, 2017 after a brief illness brought on by his long incarceration at Kirikiri prison. At the time of his death, he left behind two (2) wives, six (6) children and several grandchildren.

Background
James Danbaba was born on the 30th of January 1943 in Bille community, Demsa Local Government, Adamawa. His father was the village district head who had died before Danbaba was born. He was a Lutheran Christian and worshipped at the LCN Lagos.

Through his first wife, he fathered 4 children and 2 children with his second wife. His first son, was also an Assistant Superintendent of Police and died in service on the 21st of August, 2021.

Career
Danbaba joined the Nigeria Police as a Cadet Sub-Inspector in 1963 and rose to the rank of Commissioner of Police until his retirement in 1998. He served all over the country in various capacities as a police officer. Most notable in Lagos where he was assigned with the task of eradicating incessant robberies in the state and other southwest states, i.e, Oyo state. Danbaba loved his job as an amiable but thorough police officer. He held Lagos in the palm of his hand at a time when broad daylight armed robbery was the order of the day, and he faced the hoodlums expertly and with frustration because according to him "no sooner did you charge the robbers to court, than they were sprung out of jail to confront us on the streets of Lagos".

Arrest and acquittal
James Danbaba was arrested in 1999 on the orders of then president Olusegun Obasanjo and charged as an accessory to the murder of Kudirat Abiola, the wife of a former presidential candidate, MKO Abiola, the attempted murder of Alex Ibru, the oublisher of the Guardian Newspaper in November of the same year. The former commissioner of police was charged alongside former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamayi, Major Al-Mustapha, Mr. Mohammed Abacha and Mohammed Aminu. After several trials and 11 years in jail, Mr Danbaba was acquitted and released on the 22nd of December, 2010.

Death
During his incarceration, Danbaba's health deteriorated as he was a diabetic and had limited access to medication while in Kirikiri prisons. He continued to suffer ill health after his release and eventual died from cardiac arrest on the 7th of August 2017 at the military hospital Ikoyi, aged 74. At the time of his death, he was a father of 5 not taking into account his oldest daughter who passed away when he was incarcerated. Danbaba was buried in his home town of Bille, Adamawa.