Acting IGP alleges his predecessor, Solomon Arase, took 24 police cars with him as he left office

Ibrahim Idris, acting inspector-general of police (IGP), has alleged that Solomon Arase, his predecessor, went away with 24 police vehicles – including an armoured BMW 7 series, while he inherited an old car.

IGP  Ibrahim Idris

Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Sunday, Idris said the seven deputy inspectors-general of police (DIGs), who retired with Arase, also took away between seven and eight cars each.

Idris disclosed that he had assigned an investigative team to look into the records of police vehicles for the last three years. “A week before I was announced IG, when you look through my office window, you could see so many cars. But the cars all disappeared when I came in,” he said.

“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.

“What I did in that was to assign a directive to the special investigative unit for them to investigate all vehicles’ purchases and donations to the police in the last three years as well as their positions.” Idris said President Muhammadu Buhari has even noticed that he is using a less befitting vehicle.

He added that he has written to Arase, asking him to return the excess cars. He wondered why Arase decided to all those cars in the first place.

“Even the one I follow the president with, the last time I went for an engagement, the president asked what I was doing with that kind of vehicle,” he said. “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 of the police rule. When a policeman retires as IG, DIG, AIG or CP, he is entitled to some vehicles. 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?” Idris said he was already looking into irregularities in promotion, adding that everything possible would be done to ensure fairness.

He said he also suffered such injustice, explaining that he spent five years as commissioner of police, while some of his juniors were promoted above him. “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,” he said.

“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 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, corruption and mismanagement of police investments levelled against the administration of Arase, Idris said the outcome of the investigation set up will determine if a probe was necessary. “This is because every policeman from myself to the last constable contributes to these investments,” he said. “These are people’s properties. So, I will make those units transparent and accountable. I have to know if these money are utilised with some measure of morality and accountability. So, we will know what action to take based on the audit report.

“On the issue of corruption, based on principle, if there are complains, we will investigate. I have heard so many rumours, but as a policeman, we work based on evidence. We will investigate when there is evidence.”

Okupe: I used N10m out of Dasuki’s N100m to furnish my apartment

Doyin Okupe, former senior special assistant on public affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has revealed that he used N10 million out of the N100 million he collected from Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), to furnish his apartment.

Doyin Okupe

He explained that the N100 million was paid in two tranches, saying Jonathan authorized Dasuki to pay him N50 million from the former president’s security vote. Okupe said he received the N50 million balance after he told Jonathan that his monthly had been cut from N10 million to N5 million.

He said he chose to make clarifications based on reports in circulation that he was involved in N162million and N85million fraud. “The initial N50m was approved by the president to be paid to me from his security vote. N10m was to furnish my rented living apartment and another N10m for my office. The balance N30m was approved as take-off grant,” he said in a statement issued on Sunday.

“The N10m I received from the ONSA monthly was to run my office, pay salaries of staff, including overheads, pay expenses for our numerous press conferences, pay for publications in newspapers, magazines, local and foreign, television programmes, bulletins, and media consultants who assist and facilitate our work. I had about 23 staff, 11 were graduates out of which five were master’s degree holders.”

The former presidential aide also gave a breakdown of money spent on pro-Jonathan campaigns on the network of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

“The second N50m was approved again by Mr. President when I reported to him that the monthly allowance had been cut from N10m to N5m and that I was no longer in position to keep running a one-hour NTA network programme called INSIGHT which was aired 9-10am every Friday,” he said.

“We paid NTA about N1.2m monthly for airtime. Two presenters were paid N600,000. We paid for tapes and editing per programme. Besides we also pay honorarium for guests either directly or in form of hotel bills for those outside Abuja, or transportation.

“This cost averagely N500,000 weekly or about N2m monthly. All in all we spend about N4m monthly on the programme. Mr. President promised to help with the expenses. About a few months later when we had incurred some debts the NSA sent me this N50m which was to cover the cost of the programme for 12 months.”

Okupe also criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for releasing sensitive information about his health to the media without his consent.

He said while he decided to confide in the anti-graft agency, the commission chose to embarrass him.

“Without clearance or authorization by me this information was revealed to the media. I woke up to hear it on radio broadcast nationwide and was published in many newspapers,” he said.

“This is a sad development and a definite breach of the confidence I reposed on the commission as an institution of government.

“I was born with sinus bradycadia, a non-disease based slowness of the heart. It precluded me from vigorous exercise from childhood but I have by God’s grace been able to live a normal and active life.

“With age the slowness grew worse and life threatening. I sought medical help and went through a procedure at the Arrhythmia Cardiac Research Centre in Atlanta, where this defect was corrected. It was just a year ago and I am still under satellite monitor from the USA. This is what I revealed to the EFCC and they made it a public issue.”

Fani-Kayode: I would never join Buhari, APC ‘to move Nigeria forward’

Femi Fani-Kayode, spokesman of the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says he would never join the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) “to move Nigeria forward”. Fani-Kayode regained freedom on Friday after 67 days in detention.

Femi Fani Kayode

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had accused him and three others of criminal conspiracy, fraud and money laundering to the tune of N4.9 billion. Following his release, Fani-Kayode has resumed his criticism of the incumbent administration.

He took to his Facebook page on Sunday to disown a post which insinuated that he apologised to Buhari and might be willing to return APC, where he was during the formative stage of the ruling party.

“There is a sick individual on fb [Facebook] who has posted some rubbish and attributed it to me,” he wrote.“Kindly note that this is FALSE. It is a total fabrication. I never said any such thing privately or publicly and neither have I ever written it or published it anywhere. “These are desperate and despicable tactics being employed to gather support for themselves by a desperate and despicable government.

“I remain totally committed to opposing the Buhari administration and the APC and I would NEVER suggest to anyone to join them to move Nigeria forward.”

Admission ‘will only’ be approved by JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says the lists recently forwarded to tertiary institutions were for candidates that qualified for screening based on the capacity of the respective institutions.

Dibu Ojerinde, a professor and registrar of the board, said this in a statement issued on Sunday.

While emphasising that the lists “are in no way the admission lists”, the JAMB registrar noted that if the number of candidates on such lists was not sufficient for existing vacancies, the institutions could source from the omnibus printout earlier sent to them by the board.

“The public and all tertiary institutions should note that admission will only be approved by the board after appropriate screening of the candidates by the institutions,” he said.

“The list which is made up of candidates who met the national cut-off point within the set criteria is then forwarded to the institutions.”

JAMB recently announced that the point system copied from its website as criteria for admission into tertiary institutions and currently in circulation was a mere “illustration”.

The examination body had said the admission of candidates into tertiary institutions will be based purely on three pillars – merit, catchment and educationally less developed states.

Why we can’t impeach Buhari — REPS

THE House of Representatives, weekend, in Bauchi State, said it had no single evidence of impeachable offences against President Muhammadu Buhari.

 Speaking through the House Chief Whip, Alhaji Alhassan Doguwa, who represents All Progressives Congress, APC, Doguwa/Tudun Wada Constituency in Kano State, insisted that no such issue was contemplated in the House of Representatives. Fielding questions from newsmen, Doguwa said: “As far as I am concerned, I am a member of House of Representatives and a principal officer of the House; the National Assembly is a twin institution; we have the House and we have the Senate. If there is any insinuation or speculation about the impeachment of Mr President in any chamber rather than the House of Representatives, that, I don’t know, “But I want to be very straight forward to you that we don’t have such a consideration before us. That matter is not even being contemplated; it was not even at any point in time thought of. After all, we do not have any evidence of impeachable offence with which to use against Mr President. He described as unfounded, speculations on purported impeachment plans, adding that “it is mere speculation on the street and should be left at that level.”

Buhari orders IGP to re-open Bola Ige, Dokubo’s cases

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, directed the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to reopen investigation into the unresolved murder of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, and ex-Deputy National Chairman, South-South, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Aminosari Dokubo, and fish out the perpetrators.

Late Bola Ige

 The killing of the two personalities caused national outrage, with Nigerians calling on the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to fish out the killers who have still not been found. Recall that Chief Bola Ige was shot dead  in his bedroom in Bodija, Ibadan, home at about  9pm on December 23, 2001, after he arrived Ibadan from Lagos at about 8.30pm. His security details were said to have sought permission from the former Attorney General to go and eat before the incident occurred. The gunmen, who were said to have been waiting in the vicinity, then stormed the house and tied up family members. One of the gunmen reportedly pointed a gun at a family member and asked him to lead them upstairs to Chief Bola Ige’s room. They allegedly moved the wife and his son to an adjourning room, locked them up before shooting their target in the chest.

 Vanguard gathered from sources that towards unearthing the perpetrators of these unresolved murders, the Acting Inspector General of Police has instituted a high powered investigation team, headed by an Assistant Inspector General of Police, to crack the case. Following the death of the late Bola Ige, several unsubstantiated allegations were made against several politicians and interest groups, with some even saying the ‘Cicero’, as he was fondly called, was killed to halt the rise in his political profile, while others said it had to do with his impending probe of the corruption in the power sector of the nation’s economy. Dokubo’s assassination On the part of Chief Aminosari Dokubo, the late PDP Deputy National Chairman was said to be returning to his base from Abuja after a meeting when he was waylaid by suspected assassins on entering Delta State. He was killed near Asaba on October 22, 2004. Dokubo’s assassination at the time was alleged to have been caused by certain disagreements with the powers that be in his political party, prior to the general elections.

 A source told Vanguard that the fact that the killers and their sponsors were still prowling the streets without arrest and prosecution for crimes against humanity, was a dangerous trend which, if not addressed, might lead to killing of more political leaders either now or in the future. It’s a new day— Bola Ige’s son Reacting to the development, Architect  Muyiwa Ige, son of late Chief Bola Ige, said last night that it would be glorious, if the family could get  justice 16 years after. Muyiwa, who could not hide his happiness, said President Buhari did not disappoint him, saying the matter was now in the right direction. He said:  “I knew right from the advent of the administration of President Buhari that the matter would be resurrected. The President is in the right direction. To God be the glory. It’s a new day; we are happy, we will get justice after 16 years. “We are happy that all those who murdered our father, including the star witness, will be brought to justice. It’s good news.”

Melaye: I’m in Lagos, walking on Tinubu’s street… waiting for noise makers

Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, says he has been walking freely on Bourdillon road, Ikoyi Lagos, “waiting for noise makers”.

Senator Dino Melaye

Oluremi Tinubu, his colleague, whom he squared off with earlier in the week, resides there.

Apparently out of reverence for Bola Tinubu, former Lagos state governor, who is Oluremi’s husband, many politicians refer to Tinubu as ‘The Lion of Bourdillon’.

Melaye’s alleged threat to attack Oluremi had led to a wave of criticism, including that of a group which warned him to stay off Lagos.

Dino

In an apparent show of bravado, Melaye took to his social media accounts on Saturday, to announce that he “just landed Lagos” and that he is “waiting” for those who said he should stay away from the state.

The lawmaker also shared photos of himself “walking freely” on the street of the highbrow area.

“This is Dino walking freely on bourdillon in Lagos. I walk down the street right now,” he wrote.

“Dino on Bourdillon street in Lagos now, walking down the street. Waiting for noise makers.”

While declaring his lack of fear of anyone, the senator who said he would be spending the weekend in the state, added that he would “drive around Lagos in an open roof vehicle”