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Nigeria: Police Arrest Kenny Martins
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This Day (Lagos)
6 May 2008
Posted to the web 6 May 2008
Onwuka Nzeshi and Davidson Iriekpen, Lagos with agency report
Abuja
The National Coordinator of the Police Equipment Foundation (PEF), Mr. Kenny Martins, has been finally picked up by the Police in connection with the N50 billion scam rocking the foundation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been on the trail of Martins over the way and manner the money was spent.
Martins was in April reportedly arrested and later released and security agencies claimed he was at large.
But a source at the Force Headquarters, Abuja told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Martins was arrested yesterday following a warrant of arrest issued by an Abuja Chief Magistrate's court.
The source said Martins reported at the Force Headquarters at 10 am and moved to the Inspector-General's Office where he was invited for questioning.
"From there, Martins was taken to the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) for interrogation," the source said, adding that he might be arraigned in court today.
Martins was allowed to contact his lawyers who have been visiting the SFU.
However, the Deputy National Coordinator of the PEF, Mr. Ibrahim Dajume, declared wanted by an Abuja Chief Magistrate's Court with Martins, is still at large.
NAN learnt that the Force Headquarters is in contact with the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to track him.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, has denied allegations that he asked Martins to offer N10 million and a Sports Utility Van (SUV) to Lagos-based lawyer, Festus Keyamo, to avoid his further prosecution.
Some national newspapers had yesterday reported allegations by Martins that Okiro asked him to "settle" Keyamo with an SUV and N10million as a way of evading prosecution.
In a statement released from the Force Headquarters last night, the Nigeria Police described the allegations leveled against Okiro as false, malicious and unfounded.
The statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Agberebi Akpoebi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, enjoined the general public to disregard the claims.
"The Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, wishes to state in very clear terms, that he was never a party to the dispute between Kenny Martins and Festus Keyamo and so could not have played any role in the alleged bribe scandal.
"It is surprising that a personality such as Kenny Martins who knows his right under the law would state that the IGP 'forced' him to offer bribe to parties involved in a case with him.
"The IGP wishes to advise Kenny Martins to uphold the truth at all times and tell Nigerians how he managed the Fund of the Foundation rather than attempt to drag the Nigeria Police Force and its good name into a case before the court," the statement said.
Also, Keyamo, in his reaction, said there was no iota of truth in the allegations by Martins.
He said: "My immediate reaction is that these are lies of a desperate fugitive who is on the run from the long arms of the law. Until he was declared wanted by the court last week, these wild allegations were never made."
According to him, "The simple questions I ask are: the first version of this story last year was that the demand was made in his office. While remodel the story now?"
Keyamo challenged Martins to name those present at the meeting apart from him (Martins) and the date the meeting was held.
He wondered how the Inspector-General of Police would preside over a meeting of "alleged blackmailers and extortionists", asking why Martins had to wait till he was declared wanted before coming up with the allegations.
The Lagos lawyer described the allegations by Martins as a desperate attempt to distract attention away from the great crimes he had committed and for which he was on the run.
"I challenge him to come out of hiding and report this allegation to law enforcement agencies for investigation. If he does not do so, I will make a petition and submit myself for investigation. These concoction, fabrication and lies do not deserve the dignity of a detailed response other than this dismissive position I have taken," he said.
PEF began as the Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund but later metamorphosed into a non-governmental organisation and renamed by Martins as Police Equipment Foundation.
There is an action in court at present where Martins has been accused of taking over the leadership of the foundation, appropriating its functions and resources without due recourse to other members of the board of the organisation.
The foundation was said to have spent over N5bn on car gifts to government departments, security agencies, the National Assembly and individuals in the guise of strengthening national security.
The Nigeria Police and other security agencies such as State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency and Directorate of Military Intelligence were said to have benefited from the foundation's largesse.
EFCC's investigation into the activities of the foundation followed a directive from President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua that it should look into the allegations of corruption in the organisation.
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The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar, who was the chairman of the board of PEF resigned his position in the wake of the scandal and called for the probe of the organisation.
My name is Jide Bayo I am writing this to you because of this boy has refused to give me my 12,500 USD. I read in your paper that a man called Kenny Martins usurped 50 billion naira police fund that really got me shocked because my friend whose name is Emmanuel Martins of about 30 to 32 years old duped me of 12,500 usd. He has the same face as kenny martins and bears the same name I have investigated that he is actually related to Kenny Martins but do not know if he is Kenny’s... [Read Full Text]
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