The Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 8 Command, Lokoja, Kogi State, over alleged impersonation and unauthorised use of the name and identity of the institute by one Mr Sani Friday Makama.
In the petition signed by the national president of ISPON, Engr. Timothy Iwagwu, which was made available to journalists in Lokaja, the institute alleged that Makama had been presenting himself as the chairman of ISPON in Kogi State despite having no authority or affiliation with the professional body.
The institute further alleged that the suspect had been operating an office in the name of ISPON and undertaking activities purportedly on behalf of the organisation without its authorisation.
According to the petition, the matter had become urgent following information received by the institute that Makama had been approaching and visiting organisations across Kogi State in the name of ISPON, allegedly offering or conducting safety audits.
The institute also alleged that Makama had been representing himself as a safety consultant to the Kogi State Government.
ISPON expressed concern that such activities could mislead members of the public, government agencies and private organisations into believing that Makama was duly authorised by the institute to provide professional safety services.
The institute stated unequivocally that Makama was neither a registered member of ISPON nor had he ever been a member of the professional body.
“I wish to place it on record, unequivocally, that Mr Sani Friday Makama has never been a registered member of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON),” the petition stated.
It added that a search of the institute’s records did not show Makama as a registered member, stressing that he had therefore never acquired, through registration or otherwise, the status of a member of ISPON.
The petition also alleged that Makama, alongside other non-members acting on his instructions, disrupted the annual conference of the institute and the induction of new members held at Edge Drive Hotel in Lokoja.
ISPON called on the police authorities to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action to stop what it described as the unauthorised activities of Makama.
The institute said the investigation was necessary to protect the public and organisations in the state from being misled by individuals allegedly using the name and identity of a statutory professional body without authorisation.
The petition further noted that ISPON was established under the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria Act 2014 (Act No. 2), stressing the statutory status of the organisation and the need to protect its name, identity and professional mandate.
Meanwhile, Iwagwu commended the swift intervention of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, in the matter.
He said the governor intervened through the Director-General, Government House Administration, and that the state government had promised to look into the activities attributed to Makama to ensure that law and order prevailed.
The ISPON president also commended members of the institute for refusing to take the law into their own hands despite what he described as serious provocation.
He said the members demonstrated maturity and restraint by allowing the relevant authorities to handle the matter.
The institute urged the police to urgently investigate the allegations and take necessary steps to prevent further alleged impersonation, unauthorised representation and purported professional activities in the name of ISPON.
As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to reach the accused person, as he neither picks his calls or respond to messages sent to him
