Last week, Chairman of Senate Committee on Navy and member
of the Senate Committee on Police, Mohammed Isah Hamma Misau, dominated the
limelight for exposing what he referred to as large-scale corruption in the
Nigeria Police Force...
His allegations that the Inspector General of Police,
Ibrahim Idris is collecting bribes ranging from N10million to N15million from
Commissioners of Police, State Mobile Commanders and State Protection Units
(SPU) Commanders, for favorable postings made Nigerians breathless and speechless.
Misau who left the Force as Deputy Superintendent of Police
(DSP) also alleged that the Police make up to N10billion monthly from oil
companies, banks and private individuals who enjoy special protection from the
security agency.
The lawmaker who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial
District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly enjoyed generous and
flattering media attention while reeling out these “weighty issues” of massive
corruption in the Police Force.
His fans commended his “courage” for exposing alleged
corruption in his former constituency, ranging from promotion racketeering by
the Mike Okiro-led Police Service Commission (PSC) to allegations of massive
corruption, which he said had the “potentials to undermine the operational capacity
of the force”.
While Senator Misau’s allegations have sparked renewed calls
for the cleansing of the nation’s Police Force, questions are also being asked
not only as to the veracity of the Senator’s claims but on whether such claims
would pass the public interest test.
Sources familiar with the issues raised by Misau said the
Bauchi lawmaker started his revelations after he failed to secure juicy
postings for his course mates who are now Superintendents of Police (SPs) and
Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs).
Again, while speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels
Television on Sunday, August 27, 2017, the Senator confessed that for many
years, he partook in the business of receiving millions of Naira from Shell
Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force
while he provided security cover for the oil company. One is then tempted to
ask: While DSP Misau was enjoying his own share of the booty, which he didn’t
deny; did it not occur to him that wrong doings were being perpetrated by the Police
against the Nigerian public?
Therefore, is Misau a whistle blower or a rabble rouser? A
whistle blower is not motivated by personal reasons or selfish interests.
Whistle blowers are primarily influenced by public interest;
they are not driven by reasons of revenge because they failed to secure juicy
postings for their friends. Whistle blowers are persons with strong character
who can die for the public interest.
Conversely, a rabble rouser is a person who speaks with the
intension of inflaming the emotions of a crowd of people, typically for
political reasons. They are usually not driven by any ethical duty to expose
evil against the public interest, and therefore, private motivation, such as
the one being displayed by Senator Misau is a basic attribute of rabble
rousers!
To drive home my point, a whistle blower is motivated by a
principle, but a rabble rouser is not. This difference is, therefore, important
in determining where Senator Misau belongs.
In fact, whistle blowing is so recognized as a sacred public
duty that those involved are protected by law from reprisals. Does Misau fall
into this category, in all honesty? The answer is no, and this explains why the
case is losing momentum.
But perhaps the most important reason Senator Misau is no
longer taken seriously is the fact that he has nothing tangible to substantiate
his claims in spite of calls by well-meaning Nigerians to bring forward
evidence that the Inspector General of Police was involved in the habit of
collecting up to N10billion monthly on behalf of the Force from oil companies,
banks and private individuals who enjoy special protection from the security
agency.
The Senator’s inability to substantiate his allegations
against police authorities has given bite to the position by top police
officers that the lawmaker was allegedly projecting his in-law, who is an
Assistant Inspector General of Police (IGP), currently teaching at the National
Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to take over from Ibrahim
Idris as IGP.
Some have even said that the purpose of Sen. Misau’s
projection of his in-law for the position of the IGP is to allegedly clear his
criminal records in the Force. From available record, it is said, that Senator
Isah Misau, who is an Ex- Police Officer; with Police number AP No. 57300 left
the Force at the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police after being charged
with several acts of serious misconducts, unprofessional wrong doings contrary
to discipline and other discreditable behaviors unbecoming of a Police officer.
The Police Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood
told a crowded press conference in Abuja that Senator Misau’s case was under
Pending Disciplinary Matter (PDM), and was to appear before Force Disciplinary
Committee (FDC) before he hurriedly exited unceremoniously from the Force.
Whether Senator Misau deserted the Police Force or he
resigned following due process, is immaterial in the face of damming
allegations of corruption against his former bosses. What is important is for
Misau who has made weighty allegations to come forward with evidence to prove
his claims or forever remain silent.
So far the lawmaker has not shown that he has any tissue of
evidence to substantiate his claims. When he appeared on Channels Television
last Sunday, Nigerians stayed glued to their TV sets with the hope that the man
would prove his allegations and shame the devil!
Nigerians waited with bated breath to see him appear on the
popular Sunday Politics to defend his allegations against his Inspector General
of Police and the Police Service Commission (PSC), but their hopes were dashed.
Disappointingly, Misau started stammering, while trying to
put the burden of proof on some anonymous sources who told him that the
Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris was collecting bribes ranging from
N10million to N15million from Commissioners of Police, State Mobile Commanders
and State Protection Units (SPU) Commanders, for favorable postings.
Didn’t Misau disappoint his own fans and indeed well-meaning
Nigerians who waited with enthusiasm for the lawmaker’s side of the story? And
now that he has disappointed even his arduous supporters, what would Misau tell
his fans for not pursuing the fight to logical conclusion?
With so many questions begging for answers from Senator
Hamma Misau, only time will tell if indeed the federal lawmaker is a hero or a
villain, a whistle blower or a rabble rouser.
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