Dear Editor: The retiring Inspector General of Police has been fingered by Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) as one of those that liquidated the Lead Merchant Bank. According to NDIC, Mike Okiro had through his family business, Hekiro Nigeria Limited, between 2000 and 2001 collected a loan totalling N166million to enable him finance a pipeline-laying contract which was given to him by Nigeria Agip Oil Company.
A letter signed July 20, 2009 by NDIC lawyer Mr. Okunade Olorundare to the Inspector General of Police gave him 48 hours within which to pay back the money. The letter also accused him of breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers by using his office to obtain the loan and running of a company, but the Police Force Public Relations Officer Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu was quoted as saying that the loan has nothing to do with the Police Force as the letter was directed to Okiro personally. Some people believe that this could be a tip of the ice berg on the retiring chief cop, but he should be tried for this.
Why is Nigeria not blessed with honest and sincere Police Chiefs these past years? IGP Okiro was recently allegedly labeled as “one of my boys” by a south-south state governor, indicating that nothing negative that concerns that governor would see the light of day as long IGP Okiro remains. How can he condescend so low to corruption and no wonder, till date, the IGP has said nothing about that comment from the governor, thereby lending credence to the allegation.
At the site of one of the online publications, www.saharareporters.com, was posted a photograph of Okiro’s alleged shopping complex under construction in Abuja. This time around, we need a new Police Chief that would not be near-corrupt free.
Eno Samuel
539 Oron Road
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });