The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has been
accused of extorting money, ranging from N10m to N15m, from Commissioners of
Police, State Mobile Commanders and Special Protection Units (SPU) Commanders,
for favourable postings.
IGP Idris also alegedly makes N10bn monthly from oil
companies and other private individuals who enjoy special protection from the
security agency.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Isah Hamma Misau, made
these revelations on Friday, while addressing National Assembly Correspondents.
Misau said the level of corruption being perpetrated by the
current Inspector-General of Police and the Chairman, Police Service
Commission, IGP Mike Okiro (Rtd.), was so alarming and capable of undermining
the anti-corruption stance of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“While the Police Service Commission could not deny the
bribery allegation, information reaching me indicate that, even transfers of
Commissioners of Police, State Mobile Commanders and SPU Commanders are also
alegedly riddled in corruption.
“Some Commissioners of Police and State Mobile Commanders pay
between N10m to N15m to get postings.
“There is also the allegation that more than 50,000
policemen are attached to oil companies, banks and private individuals with
payments made to the Police authorities.
“These people pay as much as N10bn monthly. They are however
unaccounted for”, Senator Misau stated.
He said, “Policemen are being attached to criminals who now
go around blaring siren while doing all sorts of dubious activities”.
The Senator gave an instance where, one Obinna, a son of
Senator Ifeanyi Ararume moves around with avalanche of Police extorts.
He alleged that Obinna was involved in road accident at Gana
street, Maitama in Abuja last week, and had to descend on the victim whom he
had accident with, under the supervision of the police attaché.
Senator Misau also accused IGP of posting a non experienced
Commissioner of Police to be in charge of the war ravaged Adamawa Command.
He averred that, aside been an aide-de-camp (ADC) to the
late former Governor Alamiesiegha and former President Goodluck Jonathan, the
Adamawa CP, Moses Jitoboh had not had any professional experience since the
last 17 years.
He said, “foisting such officers without operational
experience has been a major setback to the current administration’s fight
against the Boko Haram insurgency”.
The lawmaker also frowned at the aleged diversion of funds
provided under the 2016 Appropriation
Act for the acquisition of Armoured
Personnel Carriers, to purchase of luxury cars by IGP Idris.
He said the motion to that effect was brought before the
House of Representatives but was alegedly killed.
Misau vowed that, at the resumption of the Senate next
month, the motion would be brough to the fore, boasting that no one would kill
it at the Senate.
Aside the allegation that the IGP was “pursuing nepotism in
favour of his Nupe officers and men”, Senator Misau also accused the Police
Boss of running the organisation “like his personal property”.
He said the IGP created frivolous units and departments,
like IG Monitoring Unit, IG Special investigation unit and others under his
office, thereby, making the office of the DIG (Investigation) moribund and
rendering the Officers attached therein redundant.
Misau lambasted the IGP and the Police Service Commission,
for alegedly engaging in promotion racketeering and offering special promotions
to undeserving officers, leaving combatants officers to wallow in low ranks.
He said he had written to the Police Service Commission,
requesting that all the Special Promotions from 2009 be forwarded to him fora
look, but the commission kept on calling him for a private discussion which he
said was an attempt to make him forget about it.
While reacting to the allegation from the Police Authority
that he was abruptly dismissed from the Force, Senator Misau debunked the
claims.
The lawmaker who tendered his resignation letter to the
press, said he honourably retired from the Police Force to contest election to
represent Bauchi Central at the Senate, stressing that he would not have won
his election if he had bad records with the Police.
By Yemi Itodo
