The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn
to a publication on page 10 of Daily Trust Newspaper of 22nd August, 2017
captioned “Bribe for Promotion: Senator asks DSS to Probe Police, PSC” written
by one Ismail Mudashir and credited to
the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isah Hamman Misau.
The Force wishes to categorically state that, putting
into cognisance the impact of the allegations from the senator on the integrity
of the Nigeria Police Force if not investigated, the Inspector General of
police promptly set up a Special Investigation Panel on the 11th August, 2017
to investigate the allegations as reported on Daily Trust publication page ‘3’
of 10th August, 2017 captioned “ Police Officers pay bribe for special
promotion – Senator” credited to same Senator Isah Hamman Misau.
The Special Investigation Panel was also mandated to
investigate the allegations from the Senator and other petitions and complaints
that may be emanating from Police officers or members of the public on
accusations of payment of money for special promotion.
The panel terms of reference covers the following areas:
i. To investigate the complaints from Senator Isah Hamma
Misau on allegations that Police Officers pay bribe for special promotion.
ii. To
investigate other complaints, petitions and grievances from Police Officers
within the Force and from other members of the public on allegations of giving
money for promotion, either special or otherwise.
iii. To determine the substance of the complaints,
petitions and grievances from aggrieved Police Officers and members of the
public on allegations of giving money for special promotion.
iv. To determine those who were involved
v. To recommend
appropriate judicial action and other punishments as it is appropriate in line
with the provisions of Public Service Rules Section 030401 (j) (k) and other
statutory enabling laws/Acts.
vi. The Panel is to submit reports to the Inspector
General of Police within two (2) weeks.
The Special Investigation Panel subsequently sent two (2)
invitation letters to Senator Isah Hamman Misau: (i) for him to meet with the
Panel, was sent through the Senate President (ii) while, the other was written
directly to him to provide evidence in written form to substantiate and shed light on his
allegations and assist the panel to carry out a thorough and discreet
investigation into the matter, but he declined and when some members of the
panel visited him, he bluntly refused to make statement on his allegations.
Senator Isah Hamman Misau, a distinguished Senator of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, instead of proving his allegations with facts and
other evidences to the Panel, granted another media interview reported on page
10 of Daily Trust of 22nd August, 2017 captioned “Bribe for Promotion: Senator
asks DSS to Probe Police, PSC written by Ismail Mudashir and credited to the
Senator.
The Nigeria Police Force sees all the allegations and
actions of the Senator as not only telling falsehood but a deliberate attempt
to malign the integrity of the Force and a campaign of calumny against the hard
earned reputation of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force which the Force
will not take lightly.
Consequently, his conduct is being reported to the
Senate’s ethics and privileges committee for appropriate sanction.
It is incumbent on the Force to educate the Senator and
set the record straight that the Nigeria Police Force has the rights as
provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to
investigate all allegations of crime and other infractions of law against
anyone including an Institution. It is also pertinent to state that issues of
promotions are internal matter within the Force and there are effective
mechanisms to check excesses in the Force
From available record, Senator Isah Hamman Misau, the
Senate Committee Chairman on Navy was an Ex- Police Officer who left the
Nigeria Police Force at the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police after being
charged with several acts of serious misconducts, unprofessional wrong doings
contrary to discipline, and other discreditable improper behaviors unbecoming
of a Police officer and that are
inimical to image of the Nigeria Police Force, which can lead to dismissal or
compulsory retirement from the Force. He was under Pending Disciplinary Matter
(PDM), to appear and face Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) before he hurriedly
exited unceremoniously from the Force. And this can explain his ill motives
against the Force.
The Force hereby requests that the Senate’s Ethics and
Privileges Committee look into the circumstances as mentioned above in the best
interest of the National Assembly and the Nation.
Tags
Politics