Misbahu Bashir
21 November 2008
The police in Abuja have again denied allegations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission that it cannot account for the N4.5 million out of the N22 million recovered from Mrs. Mba Josephine Uchenna, a Chief Superintendent of Prisons and six others recently involved in a recruitment scam.
The money was allegedly skimmed off job applicants by the suspects on the pretext of facilitating their employment into the Nigeria Prison and the Immigration Services.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Ivy U. Okoronkwo said the money recovered is intact at the zonal office. She said the amount is four million, five hundred and thirty three thousand naira only.
"The matter is in court and as soon as the court requests for the exhibits we shall tender the money. The ICPC did not at any time consult the police on the money and we are surprised when the commission said it was not furnished with the details," the AIG said.
A statement by ICPC's Resident Consultant, Media & Events, Folu Olamiti said the "confessional statement by the suspects indicated that four million, six hundred and sixty two thousand naira (N4, 662,000) was recovered by D Department Zonal CID, Nigeria Police Zone 7 Headquarters, Wuse Abuja, which handled the matter when the principal suspect Mrs. Mba Josephine reported the matter to them."
Olamiti said ICPC has requested the police authorities to furnish it with the outcome of their investigation in line with the provision of section 69 of the ICPC Act, 2000, but that they are yet to respond.
The other suspects are Ahmadu Usman of the Administration Department in the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Udo Abel attached to the office of the Minister of Interior, Kuta Babangida of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Esther Amadason of the Administrative Department (NPS) and Barr. Audu Karimu, Administrative Department (NPS). According to the ICPC, N11.635million, N9.42million, N1.2million, N280,000 and N720,000 were remitted to each of the five officials in that order.
The AIG said the statement is unfounded and urged the public to discountenance it.
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