N350 Million Alleged Scam: HURIWA Backs ICPC On Okiro’s Clearance
A pro-transparency non-governmental organization – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has applauded the independent corrupt practices and allied offences commission (ICPC) over the prompt investigations and the subsequent clean bill of non-indictment it handed over to the chairman of the constitutional body- the Police Service Commission retired Inspector General of Police Mr. Mike Okiro.
The group which issued a media statement jointly endorsed by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf also warned political fanatics to stop playing politics with the composition of the hierarchy of the Police Service Commission which is a constitutional body.
“Any attempts to play up a non-existent scandal involving the leadership of the Chairman of the Police Service Commission Mr. Mike Okiro with the subterranean objective of destabilizing the board of the Police Service Commission as currently constituted without allowing them to exhaust their constitutional tenure should be condemned strongly.”
The Rights group said the fact that the Chairman of the Police Service Commission subjected his authority to the close scrutiny of the anti graft body and gave the investigators unfettered access to all documents relating to financial transactions is a demonstration of respect for the principles of transparency and accountability.
We are delighted to read that the anti-graft body had quickly waded into the brewing controversy generated by the allegations of financial scandal in the PSC and reached the determination that there is indeed no criminal liability on the side of the management team headed by retired IGP Mr. Mike Okiro.
HURIWA recalled that ICPC in its report on the investigation of tge alleged scam had stated as folliws: our investigation has not revealed any act of criminal infraction against the person of Sir (Dr.) Mike Mbama Okiro, the Chairman of the Police Service as all issues outlined above are administrative in nature and within the ambits of career public servants handlings. Consequently, this Commission hereby direct as follows:
v That, the total balance of N133,413,845.99 from the N350,000,000, 2015 Election monitoring exercise domiciled within FCMB be remitted to the Federal Treasury through the ICPC Recovery Account No. 1012929790 at Zenith Bank Plc.
v That, the Staff of your Commission who took part in the 2015 General Election Monitoring Exercise and were paid 2-way Return Ticket and Airport Taxi to location within FCT and States of close proximity to Abuja amounting to N11,750,000 (list attached) should refund same to the Treasury through the ICPC Recovery Account No. 1012929790.
v That, if the Presidency approves of the utilization of the application by the Chairman to utilize the Abuja-Orlando-Abuja airfare for an upcoming conference, we will consider the matter. However, if approval is refused the fund thereof should be returned to the Police Service Commission and ICPC so informed.