An anti-graft monitoring group, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over an alleged procurement fraud, abuse of office, embezzlement of N275m election fraud and gross harassment of a whistle-blower by the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr Mike Okiro.
In the petition signed by its National Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC said it decided to write directly to the president after several unsuccessful petitions to the ICPC and the EFCC.
According to the group, a whistle blower, Aaron Kaase, who believes in the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari-led administration submitted an evidence based petition to the ICPC titled: petition Against Sir (Dr) Mike Mbama Okio, Chairman Police Service Communion for corruption, Abuse and fraudulent Attempt to swindle the police service commission to the tune of N275,525,000 (Two hundred and seventy five million, five hundred and twenty five thousand naira only).
It noted further that in response to the petition, the ICPC indicted Mr. Okiro and the PSC in a letter with reference number ICPC/INV/GBP/HOD/352 dated August 6th, 2015.
“In a curious and suspicious manner, the ICPC claimed it did not find anything criminal against the person of Mr. Okiro despite its confirmation of unlawful receipt of monies for journeys that ran concurrently amongst others and, his subsequent indictment in the recommendation for his refund of all monies obtained unethically from the PSS.
“Though, the same petition was submitted to the EFCC and followed with 2 (two) reminders by the whistleblower, the Commission is yet to come out with outcomes of its investigation.
“Your Excellency, as punishment for the action the whistleblower, Aaron Kaase, Mr. Okiro arranged the Police to put him on spurious criminal trial and suspended him from office without pay from the 27th day of May 2015 till date.
“With the court striking out of the spurious and fake charge against Mr. Kaase on the 22nd of Oct. 2015, rather than recall him back to work, the police under the influence of Mr. Okiro arrested the innocent man in a gestapo manner at his home on the 9th of November 2015 and arraigned him before a different magistrate on the same charges and was subsequently remanded in prison custody for a week before he was released on bail.
“Mr. President, it is unbelievable that despite the publicity attracted by the plight of Mr. Kaase and the widespread knowledge of Mr. Okiros known corrupt practices dating back to his days as Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Okiro has remained untouchable and still superintends over a sensitive security organ like the police and currently recruiting 10,000 policemen for Nigeria.”
Making its demand known in the petition, the group said, “We therefore, respectfully demand that you direct the relevant agencies to prosecute Mr. Okiro and bring him to justice to send signals to others encourage other whistle blowers to expose corruption.
“Direct the PSC to recall Mr. Kaase to work and restore his salary and privileges with immediate effect.
“Direct the police to withdraw the fictitious criminal charge against Mr. Kaase pending in a Wuse magistrate court. Instruct the police and other security agencies to ensure his safety, having hitherto refused to act on his reports of threat to life and stalking of his premises by some anonymous security agents,” the petition reads.
