Senate probes alleged corruption in Police

The Senate has set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, over alleged misappropriation of funds, illegal promotion and posting of senior officers.

The ad-hoc committee headed by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Francis Alimikhena, is also to investigate claims by the Chairman Senate Committee on Navy, Isah Misau, that the police boss had impregnated a female police officer.

At Wednesday plenary, Senate President Bukola Saraki also asked its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate claims by the IGP that Misau deserted the Police Force. The committee is expected to report back in two weeks.

Other members of the adhoc committee expected to prove the claims of financial fraud made by Misau against the police boss include Nelson Effiong, Binta Garba, Obinna Ogba, Duro Faseyi, Abdulaziz Nyako and Suleiman Hukunyi.

The face-off between Misau and the police boss started in August when the lawmaker, in an interview, claimed that police officers paid bribes to get favourable postings and promotions.

The Police hierarchy disputed the claim. The IGP, through the Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said the former police officer’s claims were unfounded and that he was only out to discredit the institution.

He had further claimed that Misau deserted the Force and that he will soon be declared wanted to respond to a disciplinary committee set up to probe him.

Misau, while raising a Point of Order on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, said the IGP is yet to respond to all the allegations he made against him. He said rather than address the concerns he raised, the police hierarchy is dealing with trivialities.

The senator added a new dimension to the ongoing rift when he alleged that the IGP has hurriedly married a female police officer after he impregnated her.

He claimed that the said female police officer was already four months pregnant for the IGP when he hurriedly arranged a marriage ceremony in Kaduna State.

Misau said the pregnant female officer, has also been compensated by the police IG, by illegally promoting her, despite her lack of qualification.

The lawmaker said the marriage between the IGP and the female officer, contravened the code of ethics of the Force.

 

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja