Senator, police trade words over corruption allegations

Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isa Hamman Misau on Friday accused police authorities of collecting bribes to effect some special promotions in the force.

The Senator, who addressed newsmen in Abuja also alleged that a particular police chief pocketed over N120 billion from Oil firms, banks  and other institutions.

The Senator, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, alleged that the police chief collected about N120 billion paid by the companies and organisations to the police for special security services rendered by the Police to  corporate bodies.

He also alleged that oil firms, high and private citizens were also part of those who contributed the funds on an annual basis.

According to him, the sum was contributed by the oil companies and other corporate bodies for the services rendered by the over 50,000 Policemen involved in the special security protections in a year.

He said that the promotion of officers as State Police Commissioners (CPs) or Mobile Commanders, are based on the payment of N10m to N15m bribe.

Misau stated that contrary to insinuations, he was not dismissed from the Police adding that he was also not on vendatta mission  against the Nigeria Police.

But the Force Public Relations Officer, Moshood Jimoh said that the allegations were unfounded.

He also debunked the allegations made by the Force Public Relations Officer, Moshood Jimoh that he (Senator Misau)  was unceremoniously dismissed from the Police for alleged misdeeds.

The Senator presented a March 5, 2014 letter which gave details of his retirement from the Police.

The letter dated March 5, 2014, which was signed by Mrs Garos Logams on behalf of the then Permanent Secretary / Secretary to the  Police Service Commission read in part: “I wish to inform you that the Commission has approved your retirement from the service of the Nigeria Police Force with effect from 1st December, 2010 after 10 years of meritorious service .

“Your dedication and meritorious service to the Nation is highly appreciated by the commission…”

But the Police in a reaction to the Senator said that it was already investigating the allegations.

The IGP, however, announced that the Force had dragged the Senator before the Senate committee .

The Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, Jimoh Moshood, who made the disclosure in Abuja said that the Senator had earlier shunned two invitations extended to him to appear before the Special panel to throw more lights on his allegations against the Police and the Police service Commission.

He said the Senator, a former Police Officer also refused to cooperate with the members of the Committee who went to him to take his statement over the allegations as he refused to see them.

The FPRO lamented that rather than to cooperate with the special Panel in order to get to the root of the matter, he only went ahead to grant a Press interview with a national Newspaper on the matter in which he called on the Department of State Services (DSS), to investigate both the Police and the PSC over the same allegations.

Moshood stated that based on this development, the IGP decided to report the Senator to the Senate Committee on Ethics and privileges for appropiate action.

According to the FPRO, “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a publication on page 10 of Daily Trust Newspaper of 22nd August, 2017 captioned “Bribe for Promotion: Senator asks DSS to Probe Police, PSC” written by one Ismail Mudashir and  credited to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isah Hamman Misau

“The Force wishes to categorically state that, putting into cognisance the impact of the allegations from the senator on the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force if not investigated, the Inspector General of police promptly set up a Special Investigation Panel on the 11th August, 2017 to investigate the allegations as reported on Daily Trust publication page ‘3’ of 10th August, 2017 captioned “ Police Officers pay bribe for special promotion – Senator” credited to same Senator Isah Hamman Misau.

“The Special Investigation Panel was also mandated to investigate the allegations from the Senator and other petitions and complaints that may be emanating from other channels

“The Special Investigation Panel subsequently sent two (2) invitation letters to Senator Isah Hamman Misau: (i) for him to meet with the Panel, was sent through the Senate President (ii) while, the other was written directly to him to provide evidence in written form  to substantiate and shed light on his allegations and assist the panel to carry out a thorough and discreet investigation into the matter, but he declined and when some members of the panel visited him, he bluntly refused to make statement on his allegations

“Senator Isah Hamman Misau, a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, instead of proving his allegations with facts and other evidences to the Panel, granted another media interview reported on page 10 of Daily Trust of 22nd August, 2017 captioned “Bribe for Promotion: Senator asks DSS to Probe Police, PSC written by Ismail Mudashir and credited to the Senator

“The Nigeria Police Force sees all the allegations and actions of the Senator as not only telling falsehood but a deliberate attempt to malign the integrity of the Force and a campaign of calumny against the hard-earned reputation of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force which the Force will not take lightly

“Consequently, his conduct is being reported to the Senate’s ethics and privileges committee for appropriate sanction

“It is incumbent on the Force to educate the Senator and set the record straight that the Nigeria Police Force has the rights as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate all allegations of crime and other infractions of law against anyone including an Institution. It is also pertinent to state that issues of promotions are internal matter within the Force and there are effective mechanisms to check excesses in the Force

“From available record, Senator Isah Hamman Misau, the Senate Committee Chairman on Navy was an Ex- Police Officer who left the Nigeria Police Force at the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police after being charged with several acts of serious misconducts, unprofessional wrong doings contrary to discipline, and other discreditable improper behaviors unbecoming of a Police officer and that  are inimical to image of the Nigeria Police Force, which can lead to dismissal or compulsory retirement from the Force. He was under Pending Disciplinary Matter (PDM), to appear and face Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) before he hurriedly exited unceremoniously from the Force. And this can explain his ill motives against the Force

“The Force hereby requests that the Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee look into the circumstances as mentioned above in the best interest of the National Assembly and the Nation.”

 
 Tribune.