Idris probes Arase, names firms to audit police agencies, others

Barely a month after assuming office, Acting Inspector General of Police (Ag.IGP) Ibrahim Idris has initiated a probe of his predecessor, Solomon Ehigiator Arase.

Idris has appointed two audit firms to look into police investments and related subsidiaries.

Confirming this in a statement in Abuja yesterday, he said: “The Force Management Team has appointed Messers Nsebot William & Co and Gbenga Abimbola & Co to carry out the special assignment which would be completed in six weeks and directed the board and management of the investment bodies and subsidiaries to cooperate with the auditors.”

The statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah, said Idris made the disclosure while addressing “the board and management of police investments bodies and subsidiaries, at the Police Headquarters Abuja on July 13, 2016.”

The firms to be audited include Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Pensions, NPF Mortgage Bank, NPF Corporative Limited, NPF HMO, NPF Insurance and NPF Property Development Company.

Idris had left no one in doubt during his inaugural speech when he pointed to the direction he was heading when he said:”The management of police cooperative and insurance schemes which are investments made by the members of the force will henceforth be made more transparent and accountable to the police personnel, especially the rank and file who constitute the largest contributors.

“A lot can be achieved to enhance the welfare of police personnel through genuine utilisation of these investments.

‘‘The accounts of these institutions and bodies will be made more transparent and accountable and contributors will have more say in the running of these accounts and on how their investments will be utilised on daily basis.’’

Awunah said Idris justified the appointment of the audit firms as being “in line with the Federal Government’s agenda to institutionalise fiscal discipline, transparency, probity and accountability in the management of public funds.”

Idris also said: “The exercise is aimed at carrying out due diligence to ascertain the true financial position, assets and liabilities, challenges and recommendations on how to restructure and reposition this subsidiaries for effective and efficient services, profitability and return of investment to shareholders and Nigeria Police Community at large.”

The statement also said the IGP emphasised that fighting corruption at all levels was part of his vision for the police which is in tandem with the cardinal point of the present dispensation.”

A police source told The Guardian that the cooperative and insurance schemes were money spinning ventures as “money coming in from all policemen across the country, deducted from their salaries come in there. But much of what the money is utilised for, more than half of the personnel that contribute to it cannot tell.’’

He added: Projects are executed sometimes without considering if they are priority to the personnel. The most hit are the personnel of the rank and file, who until recently, really started feeling the impact of their contributions. It is a good signal.”

At his maiden conference with the senior officers at Force Headquarters on June 27, 2016, Idris had emphasised the need for declaration of assets by them. During the closed-door session, he also underlined the need to look at the books to set the records straight.

While urging the leadership of the board of police investments bodies and subsidiaries, who were also present at the meeting, to cooperate with the various auditing firms assigned to their respective outfits by allowing them access and other assistance to ensure a smooth and successful audit exercise, he urged them all to be transparent.

Responding, the principal partners of the audit firms, Friday Williams and Gbenga Abimbola, in separate remarks, thanked the police boss and his management team for finding them worthy to carry out the assignment and pledged their readiness to accomplish the job satisfactorily within the stipulated six weeks.