The Police Service Commission has said that it cannot probe the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for allegedly pocketing N10bn monthly as payment for private security services rendered by the police to corporate organisations and Very Important Persons.
The PSC is in charge of promotion and discipline of officers in the Nigeria Police Force.
However, the PSC’s Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, said the IG was not under the commission’s supervision by virtue of the Act establishing the commission.
He stated that by law, the commission could discipline or probe policemen from the rank of constable to Deputy Inspector-General of Police.
“So, the commission cannot investigate or discipline the IG,” Ani said.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was not investigating the Inspector-General of Police.
A senior EFCC official told one of our correspondents that the anti-graft agency had no reason yet to probe Idris.
The source added, “We are currently not probing the IG and as it is, there is no reason to probe him.”
It was learnt from the EFCC official that no petition had been sent to the EFCC regarding the police boss as of Friday.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Isah Misau, had recently accused Idris of extorting money, ranging from N10m to N15m, from commissioners of police, state mobile commanders and special protection unit commanders, for favourable postings.
Misau had also alleged that the police boss made N10bn monthly from oil companies and other private individuals who enjoy special protection from the security agency.
Misau had said the level of corruption being perpetrated by the current Inspector-General of Police and the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro (retd.), was so alarming and capable of undermining the anti-corruption stance of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Misau had said, “While the Police Service Commission could not deny the bribery allegation, information reaching me indicates that even the transfers of Commissioners of Police, State Mobile Commanders and SPU Commanders are also allegedly riddled in corruption.
“Some Commissioners of Police and State Mobile Commanders pay between N10m to N15m to get postings. There is also the allegation that more than 50,000 policemen are attached to oil companies, banks and private individuals with payments made to the police authorities. These people pay as much as N10bn monthly. They are, however, unaccounted for.”
