The Nigeria Police Force has risen to the defence of the Inspector General
of Police, IGP, Idris Ibrahim, denying claims that the police boss donated
two Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs to the first lady, Aisha Buhari.
The force in a statement on Thursday said the vehicles, which it insisted
were not SUVs, were given to police officers serving as aides to the wife
of the President.
The senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Isa Misau, on
Wednesday opened another can of worms when he accused Mr. Idris of
donating two SUVs to the First Lady under yet unclear but alleged illegal
circumstances.
The senator, who has been in the news lately after he accused the police
boss of nepotism, tribalism, favouritism, cash for promotion and diversion
of funds including involvement in amorous affairs with female junior
officers, was recently charged to court for defamation of character and
peddling of falsehood by the office of the Attorney General of the
Federation, AGF.
Mr. Misau, a former cop, who was also accused of deserting the police by
the spokesperson of the force, has however maintained that he was being
victimised by the authorities for saying the truth.
Mr. Misau made the latest round of allegations when he appeared before the
Senate ad-hoc committee set up to investigate the allegations levelled by
the lawmaker against the IGP.
Mr. Misau explained how the IGP gave Mrs. Buhari the two cars, saying the
details of the donation were contained in the documents the police boss
submitted to the court in the suit instituted against him by the AGF,
Abubakar Malami, on behalf of the Federal Government.
While Mrs. Buhari’s spokesperson, Suleiman Haruna, said he had no
knowledge about the allegation, the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh
Moshood, said in a statement that the allegation was “baseless and
outright falsehood”.
“It is pertinent to state that at no time did the Wife of the President
and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aishat
Buhari requested (sic) directly or indirectly for vehicles for her use
from the Inspector General of Police and no vehicle whether Jeep or SUV
has ever been given for her personal use,” the statement said.
The statement said the police boss gave out two buses to the police aides
of Mrs. Buhari for their official use and not as a donation to the first
lady.
”It is within the powers of the Inspector General of Police that when on
the 17th January, 2017, SP Sani M Baba –Inna, the ADC, “Wife of the
President” Federal Republic of Nigeria requested for Two (2) vehicles for
Police Personnel in the convoy of Wife of the President for convoy
movement and security purposes.
Two (2) Police Vehicles (i) A Toyota Sienna Bus with Reg. No. NPF 2406D
(ii) A Toyota Hiace Bus with Reg. No. NPF 3363D were approved by the
Inspector General of Police to the ADC “Wife of the President” SP Sani M
Baba –Inna for the purposes requested and not to the person of the Wife of
the President or for her personal use as alleged by Misau”, the statement
noted.
“Police IG manipulated retirement age”
The statement also countered another allegation made by Mr. Misau that Mr.
Idris had manipulated his retirement age. It said it was a bureacratic
error and not deliberate as insinuatd by Mr. Misau.
“IGP’s retirement age, Misau’s allegations were ill-motive, for avoidance
of doubt, the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Force Secretary Office
wrote the Chairman, Police Service Commission on the 18th of January, 2017
drawing the attention of the Commission to the observation on the current
Staff List of Senior Police Officers whereby the date of birth of the
Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni was
incorrectly stated as 3/01/1959 instead of the actual date 15/01/1959.
All documents and records of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim
K. Idris, NPM, mni has 15/01/1959 as his date of birth except the staff
list Senior Police Officers and this is the reason why the approval of the
Honourable Chairman, Police Service Commission for correction of the error
was sought in this regard,” the statement said.
The statement had an attachment of a letter written to the Force Secretary
of the Police Service Commission to ensure the stated correction in dates.
“The difference of dates between 3/01/1959 and 15/01/1959 is just Twelve
(12) days which is very insignificant in Thirty Five (35) years that a
public servant can be in service. Attached is letter Ref No.
CH.7080/FS/FHQ/ABJ/SUB.3/30 dated 18th January, 2017 written by the Force
Secretary to the Honourable Chairman Police Service Commission on the
subject matter for media ease of reference.”