[size=20pt]R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D! Corruption in police - Policemen make N3bn monthly from illegal assignments, - We are not aware, say police; promise to sanction erring officers [/size]
- 07.08.2009

SOME top officers of the Nigeria Police and their men, it has been revealed, make about N3 billion monthly from the illegal posting of policemen to guard private individuals. The new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, had, on Wednesday, disclosed that about 100,000 policemen were attached illegally to individuals that were not entitled to such privileges. He had subsequently issued a seven-day ultimatum to the affected policemen to return to their duty posts or face the consequence.

But a credible source told the Nigerian Tribune that the police hierarchy, indeed, was making a fortune from such illegal postings. The source revealed that it was through such illegal attachment of policemen to private individuals, who were not entitled but had the money to pay for such “security services,” that these top guns of the police made their money.

For instance, a policeman who was lucky to be posted on such “special duties,” according to the source, “was entitled to a payment of N1,000 on a daily basis, which adds up to N30,000 in a month.” Out of this amount, the source explained further that the “policeman on special duty is expected to remit N200 to his commander or whoever is his supervising officer from the N1,000 daily payment. The total amount that is remitted on a monthly basis to these top police officers who are involved in the illegal posting racket, is N6,000.

“In other words, these policemen make N3 billion monthly from these 100,000 men they have posted out to those who can pay for their services,” the source stated, adding that such postings were well known in the police and the racket was a thriving one and that low ranking policemen even struggled and prayed to receive such a ‘favour’ from their superior officers.

“Even these junior policemen do not complain. They fight one another to get assigned to these ‘special duties’ because they know the kind of money they would make from them,” he said, citing the case of one policeman, who asked the influential person he was asked to guard to intercede on his behalf when he was told by his commanding officer that he would be redeployed.

The source further stated that the police authorities were aware of the posting racket but chose not to do anything even when the Federal Executive Council, at one of its meetings in March, ordered the former IGP, Mr. Mike Okiro, to immediately withdraw such policemen from those unauthorised individuals.

Although it is not known how these influential police officers who are benefiting from the posting racket would react to the ultimatum of the new IGP, it is said that there is no way the illegal practice would cease in the force.

“Such postings will continue, though surreptitiously,” the source said, saying that what was at stake for some of these police guns was more than met the eye. “We are talking about multi-billion Naira racket here. There is no way it will stop,” he added.

Although it is not known how these influential police officers who are benefiting from the posting racket would react to the ultimatum of the new IGP, it is said that there is no way the illegal practice would cease in the force.

“Such postings will continue, though surreptitiously,” the source said, saying that what was at stake for some of these police guns was more than met the eye. “We are talking about multi-billion naira racket here. There is no way it will stop,” he added.

However, when contacted over the issue, the Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Emmanuel Ojukwu, denied knowledge of the illegal posting racket from which commanding officers made billions of naira. He admitted instead that it was true that many policemen were illegally attached to unqualified individuals and that the police authorities had decided to tackle such illegal practice, saying that any officer that flouted the new order would be severely dealt with.

Said ACP Ojukwu: “We are not aware that these commanding officers are making money from such postings. But the IGP has decided to put an end to the practice. And any commissioner of police who does not obey the order of the IGP is on his own. Such a commissioner will face sanction from the headquarters. Such a commissioner will be removed from his command and will face disciplinary action,” he said.

The Force PPRO said that Mr. Onovo was serious about the order he gave on the matter and that “it is not going to be business as usual in the force. Just as the IGP had directed, those individuals who are entitled to the police have been listed. Anyone outside that list should look for alternative protection either from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps or by engaging the services of private security agencies,” he stated.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/07082009/news/news1.html