BEVERLY HILLS, August 28, (THEWILL) – The lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Senator Isah Hamman Misau says the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, is clueless, daring the IGP to prove him wrong on all allegations earlier made against him bothering on monumental corruption, rather than calling him (Misau) names.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy had, at a press conference on Friday, alleged that the IGP collects as much as N120bn annually from oil companies, banks and VIPS as payment for providing them with police security without remitting a dime to the federation account.
Misau also accused the Inspector-General of Police of collecting between N10m and N15 million from Commissioners of Police to get favourable postings and promotions.
But his claims were disputed by the police boss on Sunday as he claimed through a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, Jimoh Moshood, that all the claims by Senator Misau were lies cooked up to discredit the police boss.
The police authority also claimed that the Senator is a deserter from the police who ran away to avoid being disciplined for various infractions, adding that Misau will soon be declared wanted to respond to a disciplinary committee set up to probe him.
“It alleged that Misau dubiously absconded and deserted the Police on September 24, 2010, when he was redeployed to Niger State Command, consequent upon which he was queried, in line with the Public Service Rules.
“The Police also alleged that Misau had previously faced disciplinary investigation when he refused to proceed on Junior Command Course (JCC) 49/2008 at Staff College, Jos, between January 15, 2009, and June 19, 2009,” Moshood had claimed.
But responding in a statement issued on Monday, Misau fired back at Idris, stressing that the FPRO’s statement is an indication that the IGP is clueless about the working of the force which he oversees.
Dismissing claims that he is on the run, he further challenged the police authorities to address the issues he raised, rather than claiming that he deserted the Force.
The statement read, “I am not surprised that the Police Force left unaddressed, the weighty issues raised in my concerns over unwholesome practices in an institution I dedicated the active part of my youthful years to attack my integrity.
“It only goes to affirm my worries over the current leadership of the Force. For the avoidance of doubt, I strictly followed the provisions of the Police Act and Regulations in resigning my position with the Nigerian Police.
“Not wanting to join issues with the rambling incoherence of the Force spokesman, the Police has always known my whereabouts since my resignation.
“Moreover, I have been in the Senate for about two and half years without any mention of my deserting until my innocuous caution against practices capable of destroying the Police Force.
“It is beyond curiosity that the Police would be looking for someone clearly in plain sight for these past years. Little wonder the proliferation of crime in the country and the Police apparent cluelessness, especially under the current leadership of IGP.
“The real issue is the illegal promotion in the Police Force and its potential to undermine operational capacity of the Force. The IGP and the chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC) should prove me wrong and not embark on voyage of discovery.”
