THE renewed anti-corruption war by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has shifted to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), with the arrest of a serving Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Victor Onofiok, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged multi-billion naira fraud, abuse of office, inflation and diversion of contracts, among others.
Sunday Tribune authoritatively gathered in Abuja that the arrest and detention of the suspect who, until last week was the Commissioner of Police in Charge of “C” Department (Works Department) at the Force Headquarters Abuja, was reportedly ordered “from the above.”
According to our source at the EFCC, the arrest was said to be after a series of alleged cover ups by the Police Service Commission (PSC), the police authorities and others earlier petitioned on the alleged activities of the suspect.
The police officer was alleged to have favoured companies close to him in the award of contracts, payment for contracts either executed or not at the detriment of genuine contracts executed over the years running into several billions of naira which had remained unpaid for years.
Our source further revealed that the suspect had earlier been recommended to the PSC for compulsory retirement by the immediate past Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, following the investigations carried out on him as a result of petitions against him from various quarters.
It was learnt that the recommendation by Arase could not see the light of the day due to his closeness to the commission and some powerful government officials, until recently when a private investigator wrote the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister Justice, Mallam Abubakar Mallami and sought a fiat to further investigate and prosecute the suspect.
In the letter to the Justice Minister dated 12th, October, 2016 and signed by Alfred Kissinger Darosha, the private investigator said, “sequel to my mini report to your office dated 1st September, 2016, we hereby apply for fiat to prosecute and further investigate the above serving Commissioner of Police Victor Onofiok, bothering on abuse of office,official corruption, recklessness, circumventing/Diversion of funds, inflation of contracts.
“We have gathered evidences for prosecution of the officer in question sir, the fiat will assist us to prepare and file criminal charges before a competent court of law and unravel other clumsy investigation due to bureaucratic bottleneck”
The private investigator, who also petitioned President Buhari, intimated the president with all the steps earlier taken to see the suspect investigated and brought to book including the petitions written to the agencies against him which were allegedly ignored and frustrated by the leadership of the affected agencies.
Sunday Tribune further gathered that it was the prompt intervention of the Presidency that led to the arrest and detention of the CP by the EFCC.
A top source in the anti-graft agency confirmed to Sunday Tribune the presence of the office at the commission since Monday, saying,: “a serving Commissioner of Police, Victor Onofiok, is being grilled by our operatives over alleged fraud and other sundry allegations.
“The officer, who has been CP Works since 2014, is alleged to have awarded contracts worth over N1.9 billion to ‘companies’ in which he has interest.
“The companies include Dutse Allah Construction Ventures; Nne-Edak Technical Ventures; Puristic Adherent Company; Quality Watch Construction Company and Faksene International.
“These entities were found to be mere business names and not limited companies as was being made to be believed by the officer.
However, a top police officer told the Sunday Tribune in confidence that the affected officer was handed over to the EFCC on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris following the intervention of the Presidency in the matter.
When contacted to confirm the veracity of the report, the Head Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, told Sunday Tribune that it was true, saying “it is true, a serving Commissioner of Police is still with us.”
Though efforts to seek the reaction of the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Donald Awuna, over the matter proved abortive.