Ahead of the exit of the Inspector General of Police, IGP’, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, from the Service early next month, a major crisis is now looming in the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, over the decision to sell off the multi-billion naira Police Officers Mess located at Onikan, Lagos State.
The Edifice also serves as Transit Camp fot Senior Officers in the Firce over the years
The Onikan Lagos Officers Mess contained about 40 chalets, two big halls, Squash court, Lawn tennis court renovated by by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission,EFCC , with about 40 room apartment being maintenaned ( mostly civilian cooks, bar attendants, gardeners, cleaners and drivers, even electricians and plumbering staff
It was reliably gathered that mostly the maintenance Civilian Staff and Police personnel in the Inspectorate ranks as well as other ranks and file have been forced out of Lagos with indiscremate transfer to the Northern parts of the country
Investigation further revealed that sueveral attempts by the succives IGPs to dispose off the multi-billion naira asset had been twarted until the fresh attempt was being ploted by the outgoing IGP’
Already, a Private Developer had started moving equipment and materials to the site renovation and reconstruction work as the Civilans staff and Senior Police Officers in the premises had been hurriedly chased out by the developer without alternative accommodation in place
Our source stated that the matter had also caused crisis between the outgoing IGP’ and the members of the Police magement Team who reportedly raised concerns over the sales without following due process
It was revealed that some concerned Senior Officers in the Force were not taking the matter lightly and would want the Presidency and the Police Service Commission, PSC to intervene on the matter by prevailing on the outgoing IGP’ to put the act on hold in the interest of peace in the Force
According to one of such Concerned Officers, ” this is a serious matter that the Presidency and the Police Service Commission, PSC, have to intervene, why now? the IGP’ is going in few weeks time
“Several attempts made in the past under previous IGPs failed woefully and so also the fresh plot will succeed. This illegal act is not limited to the Officers Mess at Onikan, it applicate to other Police Choice landed properties in such areas as Ikeja, Falomo, Surulere and Apapapa amongst others
” We will go to any lawful length to stall the illegal act, why the sales in the first instance? This can not and will never happened in the Military, it is only in the Nigeria Police Force
” Fresh information at our disposal revealed that the occupants of the Edifice had just been made to contribute various amounts of money for the renovation of the Mess before the developer came up sunddenly even without the knowledge of the Force Commissioner of Works who incidentaly occupied an apartment at the building
” Findings revealed that the deal is being done secretly but we are appealing to the prospective buyer to keep off as it will not stand the test of the time after the exit of the outgoing IGP, because we are not in a Banana Republic where anything goes”
When Our Correspondent visited the Force Headquarters, FHQ, for possible reaction on the development, neither the Force Public Relations, FPRO, Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, nor his Deputy, CSP Aremu Adeniran was available for comment
However, a top Police Officer told our Reporter that the plot was real and called on the well meaning Nigerians including the current Chairman of the Police Service Commission, PSC, Alhaji Musiliu Smith who was also a former IGP, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwani Akinolu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG as well as the Presidency to wade in to the matter without further delay.
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