IG summons DCP, ACP over N75m scam

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The Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police and other course officers attached to the Ikeja Police College to report immediately to Abuja over N75 million fraud allegations. The officers were alleged to have asked over 5,000 policemen, who were on promotional course, to pay examination and handout fees, totalling N15,000 per person. A police source said that the promotional course involved policemen promoted in 2009.
He said: “Some of them are constables who are due for promotion to corporal. Others are those who are due to be promoted to sergeant and then those who are due to be inspectors. “Many of them complained that the N15,000 per head was too much. They said even if they must pay, the money the officers are demanding is too much.” It was gathered that Abba ordered the respective officers to ensure they come with documents to explain themselves. Incidentally, last year, a similar thing occurred at the Ikeja Police College during the time of the former IG, Mohammed Abubakar. It led to the sack of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, who was the Officer in charge of Training Wing.

It also led to the sack of a Chief Superintendent of Police, Administration, a Superintendent of Police and a Deputy Superintendent of Police. The sack of the aforementioned officers started after a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Mr Abdulrahaman O. Akano, now retired, came from Force Headquarters, Abuja, to assess policemen who were on promotional course at the college. He was said to have been offered N500,000 by the course officers. When he demanded to know what the money was for, they replied that the students gave it to him. Akano left, promising he would get back to them.
They were invited to Abuja and sacked. Our correspondent tried to get the Police Public Relations Officer, in charge of the Police College, Mr Samuel Jinadu, but discovered he died last week. But the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr Emeka Ojukwu, said he could not confirm the story. He said: “But it is in the character and ethics of the Nigeria Police Force to interrogate alleged inappropriate behaviour on the part of her personnel. Those found wanting are adequately sanctioned in line with the laws and regulations of the force.”