Nigeria’s immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, was grilled for over two hours by an anti-graft agency Wednesday over the management of 557 million naira meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition for the police during his tenure (117 naira=US$1).
“Investigation is still ongoing. We will keep you abreast of every development,” said the media consultant for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Folu Olamiti.
Ehindero was alleged to have directed that the funds, obtained from the government of oil rich state of Bayelsa, be lodged in two private bank accounts where they yielded interests of 16.5 million naira, which was feared could have been shared by some top police officers.
A former Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Broderick Bozimo, has also been questioned over the issue.
According to local press reports Thursday, while Ehindero has admitted ordering that the funds be lodged in two private bank accounts, he reportedly said the interests generated were spent on ”operational expenses”.
The former police boss faces a possible prosecution and a long jail term, if convicted, if his explanations fail to satisfy the ICPC.
Ehindero’s predecessor, Tafa Balogun, was jailed for corruption shortly after he was removed from office by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Panapress.
