N275.5m Fraud Allegation: ICPC Clears Okiro.

N275.5m Fraud Allegation: ICPC Clears Okiro.

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has cleared the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, (IGP rtd) Mike Okiro of the allegation of N275.5million fraud brought against by a staff of the PSC.
In a statement detailing the findings of the investigation of the petition signed by Chairman of ICPC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, it said “The investigation has not revealed any act of criminal infraction against the person of Sir (Dr.) Mike Mbama Okiro, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission as all issues outlined in the petition are administrative in nature and within the ambit of career public servants’ handlings”.
The ICPC however directed, “That, the total balance of N133, 413,845.99 from the N350, 000,000 2015 Election monitoring exercise domiciled within FCMB by the Police Service Commission be remitted to the Federal Treasury through the ICPC Recovery Account No. 1012929790 at Zenith Bank Plc.
The ICPC also directed “That, the Staff of the Police Service Commission who took part in the 2015 General Election Monitoring Exercise and were paid 2-way Return Ticket and Airport Taxi to location within FCT and States of close proximity to Abuja amounting to N11, 750,000 (N11. 7million-list attached) should refund same to the Treasury through the ICPC Recovery Account No. 1012929790 at Zenith Bank Plc”.
It will be recalled that a staff had on 25th May 2015 written a petition against Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, Chairman, Police Service Commission alleging ‘Abuse of Office and Fraudulent Act to Swindle the Police Service Commission to the tune- of N275.525,000’.
The ICPC Chairman said, “The Commission has conducted thorough investigation into the matters raised in the referred petition and found the following;
“That the Police Service Commission (PSC) received the sum of Three hundred and fifty million naira (N350m) from the Federal Government to monitor the conduct of Police Personnel at the recently conducted General election. The Commission budgeted to expend the fund on training and physical monitoring during the election.
“Investigation findings revealed that the Commission budgeted for training of 900 staff and to conduct training in Abuja, Lagos and Kano. However, the entire staff force was not more than 391 and that is the figure actually trained in a programme held in Abuja only. The Commission accepted the explanation that due process could not be adhered to strictly because of time constraint.
“The Police Service Commission paid DTA to all staff including those based in Abuja that participated in the training programme held within Abuja. Air-Ticket and DTA were paid to Management staff and others who monitored elections within Abuja and its environs; even at locations where Airports do not exist such as Lokoja and Minna (schedule of affected officers attached).
“It was also confirmed that the Chairman collected 5 days each for two Conferences that ran simultaneously in Dublin and Orlando, Florida. However, it was discovered that he expended the entire 10days on the trip. Though, he only expended the ticket-fare for Abuja-Dublin-Abuja, he has however, written to the Presidency to expend the ticket-fare for Abuja-Orlando-Abuja on another trip coming up by October, 2015.
“The investigation has not revealed any act of criminal infraction against the person of Sir (Dr.) Mike 1V lbama Okiro, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission as all issues outlined above are administrative in nature and within the ambits of career public servants handlings.
“Consequently, this Commission hereby direct as follows, “That, the total balance of N133,413,845.99 from the N350,000,000 2015 Election monitoring exercise domiciled within FCMB be remitted to, the Federal Treasury through the ICPC Recovery Account No. 1012929790 at Zenith Bank Plc.
“That, the Staff of your Commission who took part in the 2015 General Election Monitoring Exercise and were paid 2-way Return Ticket and Airport Taxi to location within FCT and States of close proximity to Abuja amounting to N11, 750,000 (list attached) should refund same to the Treasury through the ICPC Recovery Account No. 1012929790 at Zenith Bank Plc.
“That, if the Presidency approves of the utilization of the application by the Chairman to utilize it for the Abuja-Orlando-Abuja airfare for an upcoming conference; we will consider the matter. However, if approval is refused, the money thereof should be returned to the Police Service Commission and ICPC so informed.”

END.