Nigeria is one of the
countries with so many intriguing “political dramas”. When one “political
drama” is at the verge of coming to an end, another will be unfolding without
allowing the “audiences” to even view the end credits to carefully take note of
the cast and crew.
The latest of such
“political dramas” is the rift between Senator Isah Hamman Misau and the
Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police
(IG), Ibrahim Idris Kpotum.
Senator Misau accused
IG Idris of cornering N10 billion monthly, taking bribe to post Commissioners
of Police (CPs) to juicy states. The story was published on The Eagle Online on August 25, 2017.
Senator Misau is the
Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District. According to The Eagle Online, Misau took a swipe at
the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, saying he lacks experience to
run the Nigeria Police Force. Misau equally accused the IG of police failure to
remit money realized from police men attached to private citizens and oil
companies which is about N10 billion monthly, to the Federation Account. He
also alleged that Commissioners of Police (CPs) had to bribe their way before
they can be posted to juicy states like Rivers and Delta States among others.
He insisted that at present, everything in the police is not merit because
officers with 15 years experience in the Force were given special promotion. He
said the Police Service Commission could not deny the bribery allegation. He
stated further that even transfer of Commissioners of Police, State Mobile
Commanders and SPU Commanders are also allegedly riddled in corruption.
The IG through the
Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood accused Misau of making
pronouncement against the police out of vendetta. The IG said Misau is declared
wanted for patronizing Indian hemps joints, absconding from the police and that
he forged his retirement letter as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP
Hamman Isah) instead of his actual rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police
(DSP). Moshood added in a story published on Thisdaylive on August 28, 2017 that members of the public are
advised to disregard and discountenance all the allegations against the IG and
the Nigeria Police Force by DSP Hamman as totally unfounded and absolute
falsehood.
After going through all
the stories published against Senator Misau by the IG and the Nigeria Police
Force, the following questions are here for IGP Idris to answer:
1.
It is on record that you began work as
the Inspector General of Police since June 21, 2016 and by then Senator Misau
was still the Senator. When did you discover that he absconded from the Police
Force?
2.
When did you discover that Senator Misau
forged his retirement letter? Was it before or after he accused you of
corruption?
3.
When did you discover that Senator Misau
patronizes Indian hemps joints? Was it before or after he accused you of
corruption?
4.
If you knew all these long ago, what
kept you from bringing them to the attention of the media and the public before
now?
5.
If you never knew all these since and
knowing how slow the police is when it comes to conducting investigations, how
come you and the Police Force were able to swiftly carryout investigation
within few days after Misau accused you of corruption to be able to come out
with a comprehensive report which has been published against him?
6.
Why did all these allegations against
Senator Misau come up shortly after he accused you of cornering N10 billion
monthly and taking bribe to post CPs to juicy states?
7.
Would you sincerely welcome the idea of
the Senate and House of Representatives probe committees to be set to probe you
and the entire Police Force based on these allegations against you since you
and the Police Force are also investigating Senator Misau?
The IGP has shot
himself in the leg for bringing this information to the media and Nigerians
only after been accused of corruption. This has made the public to agree with
Misau assertion that the IG has failed to perform his duty effectively and
therefore not fit to run the affairs of the Nigeria Police Force at that level.
This is an obvious
indication that if Senator Misau had not accused IG Idris of corruption, he would
have not brought up all the allegations against him. This is similar to
Saraki’s case with the Federal Government. The Federal Government and APC elite
never saw anything wrong with Saraki before he became the Senate President. His
emergence as the Senate President against the wish of some APC elites triggered
the series of corruption allegations against him. Before then, he was free like
a bird! That is the same game that is playing out in the case of Senator Misau
and the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of IG Idris.
Most Nigerians do not
doubt Misau allegations against the IG because this is not the first time an IG
will be caught in the web of corruption as past IGs were accused of one form of
corruption or the other.
Let us take IG Idris back
to the most recent history of past four (4) IGs from 2010 which his case might
not be really different.
Hafiz Ringim became the
IGP on September 10, 2010 and retired on January 25, 2012. During his tenure,
he was accused of collecting bribe to post CPs to juicy states. His case was
even compounded when many Boko Haram suspects escaped under his custody
including Kabiru Sokoto. He was accused of negligence and conniving with some
Boko Haram members who paid him huge sum to stage the escape. After his sack by
President Jonathan, he begged Britain for asylum over Boko Haram which the
British government believed he broke a deal with some Boko Haram members which
led to the threats to his life by Boko Haram.
Mohammed Dahiru
Abubakar mounted the saddle in acting capacity as the IGP on January 25, 2012
and retired on August 1, 2014. Abubakar was accused of collecting bribe to post
CPs to juicy states as well as diverting some police funds.
Suleiman Abba was
appointed IGP by President Jonathan on August 1, 2014 and was sacked on April
20, 2015. Abba was accused of collecting bribe to post CPs to juicy states. He
was also accused of collecting bribe from President Jonathan and other
politicians to help them rig the 2015 general elections for them which he
failed to deliver. Many believed that was the major reason he was sacked by
Jonathan.
Solomon Ehigiator Arase
was IGP from April 20, 2015 to June 21, 2016. He was appointed by Jonathan. He
was also accused of collecting bribe to post CPs to juicy states. His case was
even compounded by further allegations after he retired that he took 19
assorted vehicles belonging to the police.
Idris became the IG of
Police after Arase retired. The trend of allegations still continues in the Nigeria
Police Force because it has not changed. Misau allegations against Idris are
not far from the truth as thorough and intensive investigation into the matter
would prove Misau right. From our experiences with the Nigeria Police Force, We
doubt if Senator Misau is wrong.
It is time for both the
Senate and the House of Representatives to set up separate probe committees to
probe the allegations against the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris
Kpotum and the Nigeria Police Force. It is after a transparent, thorough, and
intensive probe is carried out that Nigerians will be satisfied and disregard
such allegations which Moshood called on Nigerians to disregard.
It is now left for the
National Assembly to take it from here and put the matter to rest. The Nigeria
Police Force needs rigorous reform and the National Assembly should take this
very seriously. The high level of corruption in the Nigeria Police Force needs
rigorous reform to reduce it to the bare minimum.
By Terfa Naswem and Suleiman Hassan Dutse