I didn’t steal N350 million, says Okiro
Mike Okiro, former inspector-general of police (IGP) and chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), has dismissed the allegation that he misappropriated the sum of N350 million belonging to the commission, referring to the report as blackmail.
He accused an unnamed journalist and Aaron Kaase, a former protocol officer in PSC, as masterminds of the allegation.
Kaase had written a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) alleging that Okiro embezzled N350 million, which he collected from the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the 2015 general election.
Kaase said rather than using the funds for training of personnel of the commission, Okiro diverted it for personal use.
The ICPC subsequently invited the former IGP for questioning.
But speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, Okiro claimed that the journalist demanded the sum of N10 million in order not to publish the false petition filed by Kaase.
He said Kaase instigated the reporter to blackmail him.
“On April 2, 2015 at 2.20pm, I received a text on my phone, which read, ‘Afternoon sir, can you kindly call me? Am working on a story over alleged N350 million loot in your commission. It was from a journalist (name withheld),” he said.
“When I called him, he stated that there was a petition to the EFCC and ICPC alleging that I defrauded the commission of N350 million and that the petition was sent to six newspapers to publish. He concluded that he needed to see me urgently but I told him I was not in Abuja and would see him when I return.
“When I came back, he came to my residence and claimed he had spoken with the editors of the newspapers who had agreed not to publish the story on the grounds that I give them N10 million to share. He said that ‘Gen. Buhari is coming to fight corruption and once the papers publish any such story against you, he would remove you immediately.”
Okiro said the journalist sent him his bank details through text message and kept pestering him to pay the money in order to avoid “shame and embarrassment” but that he refused to give in.
He alleged that Kaase had grudges against him over his redeployment from the protocol unit where he was executing some shady deals and for his refusal to give him money during his wedding.
I do not know Mike Okiro but reading from what he is being quoted as saying here, I praise him for his courage and I thank God of all creation who has given Nigeria such an honorable man. The former IG damned the consequences of the “editors” publishing the blackmail and he exposed those extortioners and blackmailers who are in ample supply in our country Nigeria. The man Okiro is honorable and he chose the path of honor. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I quite agree with you Jacob. Mike Okiro by this his action( If only the story is true)has proved himself as one of the worthy leaders that we still have left in our land who are enviable examples to the younger generation.May the good Lord bail him out of the storm.
Mike Okiro has being a good and honourable man from his days as a commissioner up to IGP, he has not defruaded d nation even when he had d opportunity to take billions, shame on those people who wants to tanish his image. Okiro has grown above corruption. That posotion is not his fathers sitting room, if he’s removed becouse of evil people, we Nigerians are still proud of him.