The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open leadership (CACOL) has hailed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the arraignment of Sunday Ehindero, a former Inspector General of Police over illegal lodgement of police fund in a fixed deposit bank account and the collection of the 10 percent interest that accrued from it.
This was contained in a press release issued by the group and signed by its Executive Chairman Mr. Debo Adeniran.
According to Adeniran: “With the way and manner cases of corrupt enrichment and acquisition are unfolding against the former Inspector General of Police, one would easily have the impression that the ex-Police boss simply had no time for the job he was appointed to do, but rather preferred to divertpublic fund in order to satisfy his inordinate appetite. He is in the list of public office holders who abused their offices and must be condemned by all”.
The CACOL boss further added: “Media reports indicate that based on thedisclosure made by a banker identified as AibangbeMaifuwa beforeJustice S.C. Oriji of a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja,the money which was N10.3m was part of proceeds from the N300m police fund Ehindero allegedly kept in a fixed deposit account with WEMA Bank”.
He continued: “This type of fraud -that is diversion of public funds into fixed deposit accounts for personal gain- is common among principal officers that are in-charge of government funds. They do this by placement of such funds in their private accounts for several months and years in order to profit from the accrued interest before using the principal fund for its official purpose. This act has affected the general public negatively because the needs of the people would be denied at the time it is needed and realization of the government’s goal for releasing such fund would be delayed or even defeated.
“It would be recalled that a similar allegation of embezzling N16m Police fund was levelledagainst him in the past. The money was the interest that accrued to N567m which was donated to the Police for purchase of equipment by the Bayelsa State Government during PresidentGoodluck Jonathan’s tenure.
“The zeal so far exhibited in this case by officers and men of the ICPC under the current leadership is commendable and worthy of emulation,” he concluded.
