By Danlami Nmodu
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences has turned in its report on its investigations into the allegation of fraud leveled against the Commission’s chairman,former IGP Mike Okiro.
A copy ICPC’s investigative report obtained by Newsdiaryonline was signed by the Commission’s Chairman Ekpo Nta .It was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Police Service Commission, Federal Secretariat, Abuja with reference number ICPC/INV/GBP/HOD/352 6th August, 2015.
The report was entitled: “RE: INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES Petition Against Sir (Dr.) Mike Mbama Okiro, Chairman, Police Service Commission for Corruption, Abuse of Office and Fraudulent Act to Swindle the Police Service Commission to the tune- of N275.525,000 only.”
According to the ICPC boss “The above captioned petition forwarded from your office on the 25th May, 2015 refers ”,implying that it was PSC that forwarded the petition against Okiro to ICPC for investigation.
But Newsdiaryonline had also earlier reported earlier that Mr Aaron Kaase,a staff of the PSC had written a petition to some anti-graft agencies namely the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC and ICPC urging them to investigate allegations of fraud against ,PSC chairman, Okiro.
ICPC’s findings obtained by Newsdiaryonline said “The Commission has conducted thorough investigation into the matters raised in the referred petition and found:
“That the Police Service Commission (PSC) received the sum of Three hundred and fifty million naira (N35Qm) from the Federal Government to monitor the conduct of Police Personel at the recently conducted General election. The Commission budgeted to expend the fund on training and physical monitoring during the election
According to the anti-graft agency’s chairman,”Investigation findings revealed that the Commission budgeted for training of 900 staff and to conduct training in Abuja, Lagos and Kano. However, the entire staff force was not more that (sic) 391 and that is the figure actually trained in a programme held in Abuja only. The Commission accepted the explanation that due process could not be adhered to strictly because of time constraint
The commission also noted the shocking fact that “The Police Service Commission paid DTA to all staff including those based in Abuja that participated in the training programme held within Abuja. Air-Ticket and DTA were paid to Management staff and others who monitored elections within Abuja and its environs; even at locations (where) Airports do not exist such as Lokoja and Minna (schedule of affected officers attached).”
“It was also confirmed that the Chairman collected 5 days each for two Conferences that ran simultaneously in Durblin and Orlando, Florida. However, it was discovered that he expended the entire 10days on the trip. Though, he only expended the ticket-fare for Abuja-Durblin-Abuja, he has however, written to the Presidency to expend the ticket-fare for Abuja-Orlando-Abuja on another trip coming up by October, 2015.
According to the ICPC report, “The investigation has not revealed any act of criminal infraction against the person of Sir (Dr.) Mike Mbama Okiro, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission 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:(a) 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 (number withheld) at Zenith Bank Plc.
“(b) 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 (number with held) at Zenith Bank Plc.
“(c) That, if the Presidency .approves of the utilization of the application by the Chairman to Utilise 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.
