The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Wednesday quizzed a former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, over the misappropriation of N557m voted for the purchase of arms and ammunition for the police during his tenure.
Also, a former Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Brodericks Bozimo, appeared before the anti-graft body to answer questions over the deduction of N27m from the said money.
Bozimo reportedly incurred medical treatment expenses amounting to £29,971.38 and $5,600 for two weeks estacode for the period he was hospitalised.
Ehindero, who wore a green Ankara cloth and green cap arrived the ICPC headquarters in Abuja at about 10.15 am and was interrogated for more than two hours.
A reliable source in the commission told our correspondent that the former IG was invited to answer questions in relation to the interest that accrued from the N557m, which was deposited in two banks for several months.
Ehindero had requested for N557m from a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, (currently vice-president) to buy arms and ammunition to strengthen security in the state.
But after the lodgment of the money in a fixed deposit account for some months, the former IG notified the Presidency that he had received the vote.
According to the source, “He (Ehindero) had admitted in a statement made to the ICPC that he directed that the money be paid into fixed deposit accounts in two banks, from where it accrued interests to the tune of about N16.5m.”
In his statement, Ehindero was said to have insisted that the interest that accrued from the deposit was utilised in running his office, in what he allegedly described as “operational expenses.”
The source explained that the former IG had lodged N300m in a first generation bank and over N200m in a second generation bank for more than four months, and had collected about N16.5m as interest, which he converted to personal use.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, it was learnt, had directed the defunct Ministry of Police Affairs to oversee the procurement of arms and ammunition for use by the police.
But the former police affairs minister denied his involvement in the sharing of the alleged N27m out of the N557m donation.
In a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja, Bozimo claimed that all the monies paid to him by the ministry were for medical expenses duly approved by The Presidency via a letter dated September 19, 2006 with reference number 59662/S.54/VI/220, and signed by one Mr. T.K Kasali, on behalf of the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette.
The statement reads, “My attention has been drawn to media reports in which it was alleged that N17m was paid to me. I categorically deny demanding or receiving N17m as share of monies connected with an alleged arms deal.
“It is a notorious fact that I was very ill sometime in 2006 and received medical treatment abroad at government expense as I was entitled to under the terms of my service as a minister.
“All monies paid to me by the Ministry of Police Affairs related strictly to my medical expenses duly approved by government, and the records are verifiable in the Ministry of Police Affairs.
“I wish to seize this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, whom God used to save my life by approving medical treatment for me abroad.”
Bozimo also attached documentary evidence to his statement, including approvals from The Presidency.
One of the documents is a request signed by Ekaette to Obasanjo, seeking approval for the ex-minister to travel abroad at government expense.
The letter dated August 15, 2006 read, “I attach herewith a letter reference number PSA/HM/OO4/47 of August 8, 2006 from the Minister of Police Affairs to Mr. President on his health and medical treatment in the United Kingdom.
“The minister is entitled to medical treatment abroad at government expense.
“He should, therefore, be reimbursed the cost of medical treatment so far incurred by him amounting to £29,971.38, details of which are attached to this letter.
“In addition, since he is travelling tomorrow for follow-up treatment, he should be paid two weeks estacode to enable him to pay accommodation, amounting to $5,600, as well as return tickets for self and wife.
“He will be reimbursed the cost of follow-up treatment when he returns.”
Last month, the ICPC arrested two directors in the Police Affairs department of the Ministry of Interior, who agreed to refund their share of the N27m, which was reportedly diverted from the N557m.
The suspects – a Deputy Director, Alhaji Ibrahim Tumsa, and an Assistant Director, Mr. J. O. Akindele, alongside others still being investigated, were reported to have deducted the said sum at the time of payment for the supply of the arms and ammunition.
The unexplained deductions forced the contractor to write a petition to the ICPC.
The source further noted, “The two directors have made useful statements to the commission; they have agreed to refund part of the N27m.”
He added that based on their undertaking, the commission had released them on bail but they were directed to report daily at the ICPC office.
After quizzing Ehindero, the ICPC said it would charge him to court as soon as it could prove that the former IG had contravened any of the laws of the land.
The Media Consultant to the ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, confirmed that the commission had made substantial progress in its investigations on the matter.
The ICPC also disclosed that the two directors and three officers in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation arrested on Tuesday for allegedly diverting N35.9m unspent funds were cooperating with investigators.
The suspects, including a Director, Mr. D. A. Kifasi, an Assistant Director, Mr. M. L. Ajanwachukwu, a Senior Accountant, Mr. E.K. Johnson, and Mr. M.A. Vatsa, were reported to have diverted the unspent funds of the National Population Commission.
It was gathered that ICPC’s investigations showed that the NPC had, in compliance with the directive of President Umaru Yar’Adua, issued a N35,986,613.24 cheque to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation as unspent funds for 2007.
On receiving the funds, the suspects allegedly paid it into a private account in Ikorodu, Lagos , and later withdrew the money at another bank in Victoria Island, Lagos.
It was learnt that plans were underway to invite the management of the bank to explain its role in the whole saga.
“We are summoning the bank managers to come and explain how and where the money was wired and moved across branches, as well as answer questions on their roles in the transactions,” and ICPC source explained.
According to him, the commission is scrutinising all cheques issued on unspent funds to see where they were actually paid into government coffers.
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