Profile of Dr. Solomon E. Arase
Dr Solomon E. Arase, CFR, NPM, fdc, (IGP, Rtd) is a 1980 Political Science
graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a holder of LL. B degree from University of
Benin and LL.M from Lagos State University, specialising in Corporate Management
and Finance Law. He holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from University of
Ibadan, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Law from Ambrose Alli University,
Ekpoma, Edo State. He is a Fellow of Nigeria Defence College, (fdc), and recipient of
the National Police Medal (NPM). He is also a Fellow of Chartered Institute of
Arbitrators.
He served as the Secretary to the Presidential Committee on Nigeria Police
Reform in 2006 and was a member of Nigeria Police Committee on Review of the
Nigerian Constitution/Police Act. Dr. Arase co-edited ‘Policing Nigeria in the 21st
Century’ and was the editor of ‘Monograph on Criminal Investigation’ and ‘National
Security: Intelligence and Community Partnership Approach.’ He was also on the
Editorial Board of ‘Nigeria Police: The Journey So Far’. His PhD Thesis focused on
‘‘Law on Prevention and Detection of Crimes by the Police in Nigeria’.
During his service years, Dr Arase served as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to a
record three different Inspectors-General of Police between 2002 -2008 and was at a
time, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Police Command where he
developed a policing model and provided professional leadership that did not only
restore police primacy, but proved potent in addressing challenges of kidnapping,
armed robbery and other highly-organised crimes that were bedevilling the State at the
time. As an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), he served as the Head of the
Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) where he undertook landmark reform and restructuring
initiatives. He also succeeded in establishing a state-of-the-art technical intelligence
platform which has today restored the pre-eminence of the Bureau as the most strategic
intelligence agency in the internal security architecture of the country and also the
Complaint Response Unit as an internal oversight platform for monitoring police
accountability.
Until his appointment as the 18th indigenous Inspector-General of Police on 22nd
April, 2015, Dr Arase was the Head of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigations
Department (FCIID) of the Force. He retired from service upon attaining the mandatory
retirement age of 60 Years on 21st June, 2016 and has dedicated his post-retirement
undertakings to legal practice, Security Consultancy with organizations such as the
Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the European Centre for Electoral
Support, the Human Rights Centre at the University of Oslo, Public Speaking, Research
and other Academic engagements. He is a member of the Committee on Prevention of
Torture, Geneva Switzerland currently developing a universal protocol on Investigative
Techniques.
On the 11th of October, 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari conferred on him the
national award of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), in
recognition of his immense contributions to the country.
Dr. Solomon was recently appointed the Chairman, of the Police Service
Commission. He is married with children.