The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has described reports that he bought two sport utility vehicles (SUVs) for Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, as false, misleading, unfounded and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.
He also denied allegations that he falsified his retirement age.
Both allegations were made by Senator Isah Misau, representing the Bauchi Central, on Wednesday while appearing before the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Investigation of Various Allegations Levelled Against the Police, the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission.
A statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Force Public Relations Officers, Jimoh Moshood said that “at no time did Mrs Buhari request 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.”
It, however, said that a Toyota Sienna bus and a Toyota Hiace bus were released for use by as requested by her aide de camp (ADC) as provided for by the 1999 Constitution, not for her personal use.
“It is within the powers of the Inspector General of Police as stated above 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 clarified.
“The Nigeria Police Force categorically wishes to state that all the allegations made by Misau against the Inspector General of Police and the Wife of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria of buying two (2) Jeeps for the Wife of the Presidents as reported in some media are baseless, untrue and done in bad faith to misinform and mislead the Public. Members of the Public are hereby strongly enjoined to discountenance and disregard the report in its entirety.”
On the IGP’s retirement age, Moshood said the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Force Secretary Office wrote the Chairman, Police Service Commission on January 18, 2017 to draw the attention of the Commission to the observation on the current Staff List of Senior Police Officers whereby Idris’ date of birth 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 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,” the statement added.
Moshood observed that Misau was silent on Wednesday about his earlier allegation that Idris married a junior policewoman after getting her pregnant.
“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni, will not be distracted or deterred by mischievous and misguided individual(s) from carrying out his statutory responsibilities for the benefit of the entire Police Personnel and all Nigerians that we serve,” the statement concluded.
