Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) grilled the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Sir Mike Okiro, over alleged N275.5 million fraud.

Okiro, a former Inspector General of Police (IGP), was interrogated for hours on a petition that he and others engaged in shady deals leading to the loss of public funds.

The former IGP was driven in a black Toyota Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked T 98 01 FG (PSC) to the headquarters of the ICPC in Abuja.

He was accompanied by the PSC’s Chief Accountant, Mr. Bisala A. A., Ibeh E. C and his orderly, one George Todonu, who were also interrogated.

A source said the invitation of Okiro and other staff of PSC followed a petition published in one of the national dailies.

He said the petition titled: “Attempt to swindle the Police Service Commission to the tune of N275.5 million”, was written by Mr. Aaron Kaase, a Principal Administrative Officer at PSC.

The petitioner had accused Okiro of diverting N350 million sought from the office of the National Security Adviser for staff training ahead of the 2015 general elections to his personal use.

He said claims by Okiro that the training programmes were held in Abuja, Kano and Lagos were frivolous, adding that such trainings were never organised.

Kaase faulted Okiro’s claims on the grounds that the staff strength of the commission was less than 400 as against 900 he claimed benefited from the training. He also accused Okiro of claiming allowances for journeys never embarked upon for himself and his aides. Okiro was, however, granted administrative bail.

Though the spokesman of the ICPC, Mr. Folu Olamiti, could not be reached for an official comment, the Head of the Press Unit of PSC, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, in a telephone conversation, confirmed the development, saying: “There was a petition against the chairman (of PSC), which was sent to ICPC, and in reaction to that, the commission wrote the ICPC to come and look at its accounts.

“So, if the chairman was at ICPC today, it should be in respect of that. I think he was a guest of ICPC.”

•Adapted from New Telegraph. Photo shows Okiro.

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