The running battle between the chairman, senate committee on navy, Senator Isah Hamman Misau and the inspector general of police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris has taken a new dimension as the former accuses the latter of dating a serving junior officer in the police, impregnating her, and hurriedly marrying her to conceal the unethical act.
He also alleged that the police chief went far as promoting her far above her seniors, despite not possessing the requisite qualifications for such promotion.
Speaking on the floor of the senate on Wednesday, Misau who is currently briefing his colleagues said the corruption in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) under Idris is alarming and must be questioned if the integrity of the Force must be restored.
At Wednesday’s plenary, Misau raised a point of order on the issue during which he notified his colleagues that he has been having a running battle with the IGP over his concern on the level of corruption in the NPF.
He said he deemed it necessary to bring the matter before the Senate in view of the fact that it has been in public domain for some weeks now.
He accused the IGP of blackmailing him because he dared to talk about the level of corruption in the force.
“I was a retired police officer after serving for 10 years and my father was in the police too and he served for 34 years. In fact, he joined the police even before I was born. So when I speak about the police I know what I am saying. When I speak about police I speak on authority.
“I am concerned about what is happening in the police in terms of bribery and there is a need for something urgent to be done to salvage the image of the institution.
“Before raising alarm on the irregularities in the institution, I called three serving officers and they confirmed to me that people pay much more than N500, 000 to get promotion.
“I also have other evidences that I am ready to release for investigation,” he said.
Speaking on his claims that the IGP has impregnated a female police officer, Misau said: “I am aware that the IGP has impregnated a female officer in his office. Because he wanted to save his face, he hurriedly went ahead and married the woman. The wedding ceremony was held in Kaduna State.
“The female officer was already four months pregnant. This is against the rules of the PSC. You cannot marry another police officer while you are still serving. But the IGP has flouted that law.”
The lawmaker further alleged that the police was generating money from companies where officers were being deployed to serve, whereas, the funds so generated was never paid into the federation account.
He lamented that while most Nigerians were without security protection, the force was in the habit of deploying large number of officers to guard companies and a few individuals.
“This is an open secret. It is obvious that even people with questionable character have police backing blaring siren all over the place.
“One police officer is supposed to be for 400 people but in Nigeria it is one police officer to 800 people and a marketer for instance will have over 30 policemen.
“This is depleting the few police we have meanwhile the ordinary citizens are left without adequate protection.
“We have excellent police officers who are now demoralised because promotion is no longer based on merit and years of service.
“Another thing I found out is that there is illegal diversion of funds. Under the 2016 budget, there was a line item for purchase of armoured personnel carrier (APC) instead luxury cars were purchased without virement,” said Misau.
On allegations by the police that he was a deserter, Sen. Misau insisted that he followed due process in retiring from the police.
He urged the Senate to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate his allegations against the police.
Responding, the senate president, Bukola Saraki, constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the claims of financial fraud made by Misau and report to the senate as soon as possible.
“We have listened to him and he has raised a number of issues we can’t sweep under the carpet. We have to reform our institutions and deal with allegations of corruption because they are weighty.
“The ad hoc committee will deal with the area of allegation of corruption, while the Committee on Ethics and Privileges will deal with the allegation of the police against Misau,” he said.
The ad hoc committee is chaired by the deputy chief whip, Francis Alimikhena, with senators Joshua Lidani, Binta Masi, Duro Faseyi, Nelson Effiong, Obinna Ogba, and Suleiman Hunkuyi as members.
It would be recalled that Misau had accused the IGP of monumental corruption.
In retaliation, Idris accused the lawmaker of being a police deserter who did not retire properly but brandishing a faked retirement acceptance letter from the Police Service Commission (PSC).
A petition was written to the senate by the IGP requesting the legislative body to investigate the senator.
However, the PSC had intervened and declared the retirement letter of Misau as genuine.
Even at that, the police authority did not withdraw the petition written against the senator.
