The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered an investigation into the non-payment of allowances of police personnel who participated in the governorship election in Ondo State last Saturday.

He directed the Special Investigation Panel, headed by Ali Amodu, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, to probe the delay, omission and discrepancies in the payment of allowances to the officers.

The policemen had embarked on a protest last Monday in Akure over the alleged diversion and non-payment of their allowances.

But the IG, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the probe was also informed by “complaints of irregularities from certain quarters and discoveries of possible anomalies and plausible foul play.”

The statement by the Force spokesman, Donald Awunah, said the SIP was directed to investigate, streamline and enhance payment of entitlements of the force personnel who engaged in ad-hoc duties.

It explained that the panel would investigate thoroughly the recent payment of allowances to personnel of the force to determine if the money released for the purpose was utilised accordingly.

The panel is also expected to liaise with the Ministry of Finance on the perennial problematic nature of paying allowances, while setting up standard modalities that would be adopted by the force to address the issue during subsequent elections in the country.

The statement read, “The panel will recommend where appropriate, disciplinary actions against errant officers within and outside the force.

“The SIP, at the end of the investigation, is to recommend professional modalities for the payment of allowances in line with due process for subsequent payments of allowances to personnel of the force engaged in ad hoc duties.”

It added, “This development is pursuant to the policy of the IG for transparency and accountability in all aspects of the Nigeria Police Force and in readiness for the establishment of a standard template that would be used in the conduct of subsequent elections.”

The investigation panel comprises representatives from the offices of the Police Account and Budget, Director of Finance, DIG Operations, IGP Project Monitoring Unit, including a member of the SIP, to assist the chairman in conducting the investigation.

A representative from the Police Legal Section will serve as secretary.

Idris urged policemen, who had yet to receive their allowances to “exercise a little patience as the issue is already being looked into,” giving assurance that no one would be cheated out of their dues.

He further asked anyone with useful information that could assist the panel in its investigation to come forward with such.
https://www.google.punchng.com/ondo-poll-ig-orders-probe-non-payment-policemen

They probe e writhing in this country yet no good thing comes out of the probe