Misau Challenges Police to Address Issues of Corruption

PSC commences investigation into senator’s retirement claims

Damilola Oyedele Obi Paul

Senator Isa Hamman Misau (Bauchi Central) has challenged the Nigerian Police to address allegations of corruption and nepotism he raised in some media interviews, rather than resort to attacking his person.

This is as he maintained that he did not desert the police force as being claimed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood.

Misau and the police have engaged in a war of words following the latter’s media interviews accusing the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, of corruption and nepotism.

Misau had alleged that the IG collects between N10 million and N15 million from police officers for postings such as state police commissioners or mobile commanders, in addition to him pocketing about N10 billion monthly from the deployment of over 50,000 policemen to oil companies, banks, and private individuals who make regular payments to police authorities.

The police PRO however refuted all the allegations made by the lawmaker, and accused him of being out to discredit the police.

The police had during the weekend accused Misua of “dubiously absconding and deserting the Nigeria Police Force on September 24, 2010, when he was redeployed to Niger State Command and he refused to report, consequent upon which he was queried in line with the Public Service Rules Sections 030301(b) (g)(m)&(o) and 030402(a)(b)(c) (e)&(w), in addition to the previous queries and disciplinary process he was facing when he refused to proceed on Junior Command Course(JCC) 49/2008 at Staff College Jos between January 5, 2009, and June 19, 2009.”

Police Public Relations Officer, Moshood, told journalists weekend that “the retirement letter presented to the journalists by DSP Mohammed Isa Hamman was suspiciously forged and dubiously obtained.

“The letter which was dated March 5, 2014, a period of more than four years after AP No 57300 DSP Mohammed Isa Hamman (Senator Isah Hamman Misau) deserted the Force is now being investigated by the Force,” he said.

In a statement yesterday, Misau, however said he was not on the run, and cannot therefore be declared wanted, as he has been in ‘plain sight’ since he left the force.

He urged the police to address his allegations of illegal promotion and nepotism which could undermine the operational capacity of the police, rather than resort to attack his person.

“The real issue is the illegal promotion in the police force and its potential to undermine operational capacity of the Force. The IG and the chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC) should prove me wrong and not embark on voyage of discovery.”

“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,” he said.

Misau added: “Not wanting to join issues with the rambling incoherence of the Force spokesman, the police have 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 IG.” Meanwhile, as the controversy between Misua and the police takes a downward trend, the PSC yesterday said it had commence investigation into the claims by the lawmaker that he officially retired from the force before venturing into partisan politics.

Speaking to THISDAY, PSC Head of Media and Information, Ikechukwu Ani, said investigation on the matter had already commenced.

“We want to confirm whether the PSC Director of Recruitment who was there when the thing happened, the person that signed that letter, Mrs. Logam actually signed the letter.

“They want to confirm whether the letter left the commission, and to confirm whether she signed and delivered the letter.

“There are controversies about the letter. So the commission wants to actually confirm whether she actually issued that letter; signed or issued that letter.

“There are issues warranting this investigation, there are issues, that is why we want to confirm the letter,” Ani stated.

Efforts to speak to the Police PRO, CSP Moshood, were not fruitful as he did not respond to calls put across to him.