The ongoing feud between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris and Senator Isah Hamman Misau, has assumed a new dimension with the lawmaker daring the former to prove him wrong on all allegations earlier made.
Misau, at a press conference last Friday, alleged that the Inspector General of Police collects a whooping N120bn annually from oil companies, banks and VIPS seeking protection from the force.
The lawmaker who chairs the Senate committee on Navy also accused the Police boss of collecting between N10m and N15m from Police Commissioners to get favourable postings and promotions.
The Police boss, however disputed the claim, through the Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, saying Misau’s claims were unfounded and that he was only out to discredit the institution.
He further stated that Misau deserted the Force and that he will soon be declared wanted to respond to a disciplinary committee set up to probe him.
“It alleged that Misau dubiously absconded and deserted the Police on September 24, 2010, when he was redeployed to Niger State Command, consequent upon which he was queried, in line with the Public Service Rules.
“The Police also alleged that Misau had previously faced disciplinary investigation when he refused to proceed on Junior Command Course (JCC) 49/2008 at Staff College, Jos, between January 15, 2009, and June 19, 2009,” the Police spokesman had claimed.
But reacting to claims that he deserted the Force and will soon be declared wanted, Misau fired back at the Inspector General of Police that he is clueless about the working of the force which he oversees.
Dismissing claims that he is on the run, he further challenged the police authorities to address the issues he raised, rather than claiming that he deserted the Force.
Misau reacted: “I am not surprised that the Police Force left unaddressed, the weighty issues raised in my concerns over unwholesome practices in an institution I dedicated the active part of my youthful years to attack my integrity.
“It only goes to affirm my worries over the current leadership of the Force. For the avoidance of doubt, I strictly followed the provisions of the Police Act and Regulations in resigning my position with the Nigerian Police.
“Not wanting to join issues with the rambling incoherence of the Force spokesman, the Police has always known my whereabouts since my resignation.
“Moreover, I have been in the Senate for about two and half years without any mention of my deserting until my innocuous caution against practices capable of destroying the Police Force.
“It is beyond curiosity that the Police would be looking for someone clearly in plain sight for these past years. Little wonder the proliferation of crime in the country and the Police apparent cluelessness, especially under the current leadership of IGP.
“The real issue is the illegal promotion in the Police Force and its potential to undermine operational capacity of the Force. The IGP and the chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC) should prove me wrong and not embark on voyage of discovery,” the senator said in a statement released today.”
