•‘It’s not true, acting IG being vindictive’
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has asked his predecessor Solomon Arase to return the excess number of police vehicles he took away on departure from office.
He accused the former IG of taking away 24 vehicles including top of the range armoured BMW cars.
Idris has written to Arase to return at least 20 vehicles, saying he should not have more than four cars as part of his severance package.
He added that some of the retired Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), took away as many as eight vehicles.
The acting IG has also launched a probe into irregular promotion in the police and the management of police investments.
Speaking at the Force Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, Idris said: “A week before I was announced (appointed), if you looked through my office window, you could see so many cars. But the cars all disappeared when I came in. What I did was to assign a directive to the Special Investigative Unit (SFU) to investigate all vehicles’ purchases and donations to the police in the last three years as well as their positions.
“When I took over, there were no vehicles. I discovered that the last IG went away with 24 vehicles including two BMWs. The DIGs some took seven, others eight. And they left me with an old vehicle. Even the one I followed the President with – the last time I went for an engagement – the President asked what I was doing with that kind of vehicle. The headlight has changed colour, which means it was parked for long under the rain.
“But the new ones that were bought, including an Armoured BMW 7 series, he took them away. So, I wrote to him and reminded him that when a policeman retires as IG, DIG, AIG or CP, he is entitled to some vehicles. And so, he should take his entitlement and return the extra. I believe four vehicles are enough for an average person. What does one need 24 vehicles for?”
Efforts to reach Arase failed last night but a source close to him said he could not have taken 24 vehicles. According to the source, the acting IG is only being vindictive having been queried by Arase for a wrong doing as an AIG.
Idris further explained yesterday that he had concluded plans to investigate the irregularities in promotion saying due diligence will be done.
Narrating his encounter with policemen during a visit to Maiduguri, Idris who said he could feel the pains of those who felt marginalised as a result of the irregular promotion, recalled that he spent five years as Commissioner of Police, while some of his juniors were promoted above him.
“Before I travelled to Maiduguri, last week to be precise, I got a petition from the House of Representatives on Police promotion. Many police officers are not happy with the irregular promotion.
“I said it in my inaugural speech that the police will be run as a democratic institution that is responsible, accountable and representative. That is the police that Nigerian people need.
“Because we are supposed to be responsive for the yearnings of the people to be realized, the issue of promotion can dampen spirits. I know how it feels. I was CP for five years while some of my colleagues who became CP were made AIGs within two years. So, I know how it feels.
“We have discussed it before I travelled. The new management will investigate the recent promotions. We will constitute a panel to see if the promotions were done in line with the Police Service Commission (PSC) rules.
“This is a Constitutional issue. There is a policy and we need to find out if these promotions were done in accordance with laid down principles.”
On allegations of contract inflation and corruption against the previous administration, Idris said audits into police investments are ongoing, adding that he would probe his predecessor if there was evidence of corruption against him.
According to him, the findings of the ongoing audits of police investments and subsidiaries would also determine whether Arase’s regime will be probed.
“This is because every policeman from the IG to the Constable contributes to these investments. These are people’s properties. So I will make those units transparent and accountable. I have to know if this money is utilised with some measure of morality and accountability. So, we will know what action to take based on the audit report.
“On corruption, if there are complains, we will investigate. I have heard a lot of rumours but as a policeman, we work based on evidence. We will investigate when there is evidence, we will take action.”
Idris also vowed to investigate allegations of extortion of policemen who stay in the barracks in the guise of accommodation fee. He insisted that living in any police barrack is free.
Asked of his plans to contain armed violence across the country, Idris said his team was focusing on intelligence-based policing by strengthening community and neighbourhood alertness.
He explained that his drive to ensure security, propelled the massive redeployment of policemen across the country, adding that most of those serving at their previous postings might have been compromised.
“Very much is expected from us especially from the Rank and File. They believe in me because I have been training policemen for five years. They believe I will be able to change things and so I cannot disappoint them.
“Their welfare is my priority. I believe each policeman should own an accommodation. It is good for the conventional policemen to mix up with the civilian populace. Only the special forces should stay in the barracks,” he said.
The IGP restated his commitment to strengthen the Police Mobile Force, insisting that they will be withdrawn from VIPs to be the strike force that they are.
He denied being responsible for the mass retirement of DIGS and AIGs, noting that it was not the first time such would take place after the appointment of a new IG.
