Police IG, Ministry deny receiving N19.7 billion helicopter, security equipment money from CBN
By Adetokunbo Fakeye
Police authorities and the police affairs ministry Tuesday, denied the receipt of N19.7 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The suspended CBN has said that, through the instruction of Mr President, CBN paid the money for purchase of security helicopters and equipment.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, told the House of Representatives public accounts committee that police knew nothing about the money, and would not answer questions about its disbursement.
The police chief representative, AIG, Ilesanmi Aguda, said the ministry of police affairs which oversees police administration would be better placed to respond to queries on the matter.
But, the chairman of the committee, Hon Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, said he had been informed “formally” by the permanent secretary of the ministry that the ministry too knew nothing about the money.
The denial by the police on Tuesday, adds a fresh twist to the controversy over the suspension of Mr. Sanusi by President Jonathan over allegation of mismanagement of public funds.
Mr. Sanusi had said the project, which involved buying of helicopters and other security tools, amount to N19.7 billion, and was carried out “upon the instruction” of President Jonathan.
The president, he said, also requested that the CBN pay N3.2 billion for the construction of a new counter terrorism centre for the office of the National Security Adviser, alongside other projects.
“Consistent with our policy of development, upon the instruction of His Excellency, the President, the CBN intervened by paying N19.7 Billion to the Ministry of Police Affairs for the purchase of armoured helicopters and other security equipment,” he said.
“Also, upon the application of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the CBN paid N2.1 Billion for the automation and renovation of the Federal Executive Council Chamber.”
Such projects should be covered by the government budget, and it is not clear how these spending were categorized by the president.
But at a sitting of the House public account committee Tuesday, AIG Aguda, said the police could not give details of the funds as “at no point was such funds released to the police.”
“It is the ministry of police affairs that can answer the questions,”.
As he spoke, the chairman of the committee, Mr. Olamilekan, interjected and explained how he had been “formally” briefed by the permanent secretary of the ministry, who exonerated the ministry of any role in the disbursement of the funds.
“The PS approached me formally and told me that they don’t know anything about the money,” the chairman said.
The committee said it would insist on receiving the explanations directly from the police IG, Mr. Abubakar, next Tuesday. The ministry of police affairs and the CBN have also been invited to attend the meeting.