*Laments oppression by 37 PMF Commander
•Call for investigation
By Godsgift Onyedinefu/Globalsentinel
Policemen of the 25, 37 and 51 Police Mobile Force (PMF) serving under Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) John Paul, has written a petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, alleging that they are being extorted, oppressed and intimidated by their Commander.
The policemen in a letter dated April 29, 2020, alleged that the Commander extorts both the senior and junior officers by forcing them to illegally collect money from motorists of which 80 per cent are paid into his personal bank accounts.
The officers also accused ACP Paual of forcing them to remit part of their allowances every month to the same account number.
“Those that could not pay were all removed from their payable beats and reposted to undesired beats.Thirdly, the commander is sorting emoluments of personnel who are yet to pay and promised he will not work on them”, they claimed.
They lamented that the Commander makes them bear the maintenance and fuelling
of all operational vehicles which ought to be the responsibility of the command.
The personnel in the petition pleaded with the IGP to investigate the Commander to put an end to his illegal and corrupt activities and also save them from public odium.
However, these allegations could not be verified, but efforts were made to reach the Force Public Relations Officer (Force PRO), DCP Frank Mba, who promised to look into the issue, but is yet to send feedback, according to the Globalsentinel reports.
As at the time of writing, there is no official response from the police whether the issue has been investigated and what actions were being taken. DCP Mba is still being awaited to respond to enquiries put across to him.
The petition, was also copied to the Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC); Deputy, Inspector-General of Police in charge of operations; COMPOL MOPOL; AIG MOPOL; Police Mobile Force, Force Headquarters Abuja; and The Commanding Officer 37 PMF Lokoja reads:
“We write this petition on behalf of 37 PMF and other visiting MOPOL serving under the above named ACP JOHN PAUL and we wish to urge your good office to investigate each and every of our allegations against him to enable you put an end to his extortion, intimidation and oppression.
“Firstly, the said Commander has been forcing all officers under him to forcefully mount road blocks to wit he will insist on more than eighty (80) percent on all monies recovered, any officer that fails to comply are mostly posted to undesired
places as purnishment for their non compliance, returns remitted however are thereby the condition for being favoured with posting.
“Secondly, apart from the fact that there is welfare for all ranks in the Police force,
he makes all officers remit monthly returns of a thousand each for welfare and
N1,800 (One thousand, Eight Hundred Naira only) monthly for building, the
introduction of these levies to be paid by all the personnel of the squadron
including visiting Mobile police is disheartening knowing fully well that they are subject to change in every three months, he distributed his account numbers to both senior and junior officers, to collect returns claiming that he knows how much he paid to get the squadron, those that could not pay were all removed from their payable beats and reposted to undesired beats.Thirdly, the commander is sorting emoluments of personnel who are yet to pay and promised he will not work on them.
“These are some of the account details he
is using in obtaining the monies.
a. John Paul Echatah FCMB 0254398026
b. Momoh J Adejoh 3024423639 First Bank
c. Other details of accounts used by him are attached to this mail.
“Furthermore, Office is ordinarily responsible for the maintenance and fuelling of all operational vehicles in the past but the Commander is compelling
personnel of the squadron to contribute money for procurement of fuel for operational duties.
“The commander is so corrupt to the extent that Banks where four people are supposed to guard, ACP John Paul will post only two and join the allowances of other remaining two to his weekly returns, this has made it impossible for some of the officers to go and see their families since they need to cover for ACP John Paul’s slot. All our complaints to 2I/C and A/O enter their deaf ears as they are equally struggling to meet up.
“By this Petition, we urge you to help us with
Stoppage of every illegal collection of money and return of those already obtained from officers by ACP JOHN PAUL
Police Acts and regulations, Establishment and Administration of PMF and other extant laws should be strictly adhered to by ACP John Paul.
Thorough investigation on this issue is important to serve as deterrence to others,
The investigation should be extended to Mopol 25 and 50 on special duties in Lokoja
To investigate over 500k contributed for 2Ic provost COMPOL MOPOL office when his house was razed down, to know how much that was eventually remmitted.
“Sir, several officers are bleeding inside as a result of the pain caused by the Commander’s directives but they have decided not to take it to the media which
informed our reasons for bringing it to your knowledge for proper actions.Sir, all our effort is to ensure the Nigeria Police Force is not given bad image and to encourage the voiceless officers in the discharge of their unbiased services to the nation, we believe in your ability to bring reforms to 37PMF and we anticipate positive actions on this matter,
Best regards sir.
Yours Faithfully
Concerned members of the 25, 37 and 51 PMF
CC
Chairman, Police Service Commission
Deputy, Inspector General of Police in charge of operations COMPOL MOPOL
AIG MOPOL Police Mobile Force, Force Headquarters ABUJA
The Commanding Officer 37PMF, Lokoja
