The Nigeria Police Force has defended Inspector General of Police Idris Ibrahim by countering Sen. Isa Misau claims that the police boss donated two Sports Utility Vehicles, SUVs to the first lady, Aisha Buhari.
In a statement Thursday, the force headquarters said the vehicles were not SUVs, and were given to police officers serving as aides to the wife of the president.
Misau on Wednesday accused Mr. Idris of donating two SUVs to the First Lady under yet unclear but alleged illegal circumstances when he was testifying before a Senate panel.
The senator has been smearing the police boss with allegations of nepotism, tribalism, favouritism, cash for promotion and diversion of funds, and sexual exploitation of female junior officers;
He was recently charged to court with defamation of character and peddling of falsehood by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Misau also was accused of deserting the police by the spokesperson of the force, has however maintained that he was being victimised by the authorities for saying the truth.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said in a statement that the allegation was “baseless and outright falsehood”.
“It is pertinent to state that at no time did the Wife of the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aishat Buhari requested (sic) directly or indirectly for vehicles for her use from the Inspector General of Police and no vehicle whether Jeep or SUV has ever been given for her personal use,” the statement said.
”It is within the powers of the Inspector General of Police that when on the 17th January, 2017, SP Sani M Baba –Inna, the ADC, “Wife of the President” Federal Republic of Nigeria requested for Two (2) vehicles for Police Personnel in the convoy of Wife of the President for convoy movement and security purposes. Two (2) Police Vehicles (i) A Toyota Sienna Bus with Reg. No. NPF 2406D (ii) A Toyota Hiace Bus with Reg. No. NPF 3363D were approved by the Inspector General of Police to the ADC “Wife of the President” SP Sani M Baba –Inna for the purposes requested and not to the person of the Wife of the President or for her personal use as alleged by Misau”, the statement noted.
On falsifying the IGP retirement age, another allegation by the Bauchi senator, the police spokesman said it said it was a bureaucratic error and not deliberate .
“For avoidance of doubt, the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Force Secretary Office wrote the Chairman, Police Service Commission on the 18th of January, 2017 drawing the attention of the Commission to the observation on the current Staff List of Senior Police Officers whereby the date of birth of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni was incorrectly stated as 3/01/1959 instead of the actual date 15/01/1959. All documents and records of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni has 15/01/1959 as his date of birth except the staff list Senior Police Officers and this is the reason why the approval of the Honourable Chairman, Police Service Commission for correction of the error was sought in this regard,” the statement said.
An attachment of a letter written to the Force Secretary of the Police Service Commission to ensure the stated correction in dates followed the press release.
“The difference of dates between 3/01/1959 and 15/01/1959 is just Twelve (12) days which is very insignificant in Thirty Five (35) years that a public servant can be in service.
Attached is letter Ref No. CH.7080/FS/FHQ/ABJ/SUB.3/30 dated 18th January, 2017 written by the Force Secretary to the Honourable Chairman Police Service Commission on the subject matter for media ease of reference.”