The Inspector General of Police in Nigeria, Usman Baba Alkali, has urged the House of Representatives to direct all queries on the alleged loss of $2.4 billion from illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil export in 2015 to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and relevant courts as the matter is already in court.
He was speaking when he appeared at the Ad-hoc Committee Investigating Alleged Loss of Over $2.4 Billion from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Export in 2015, including Crude Oil Export From 2014 Till Date, in Abuja.
The police boss said the interpol had received a petition about some individuals who blackmail and extort money from government officials and swung into action by inviting them, while others fled the country.
“It is my responsibility to act on any information received. I assure you, we are not investigating, we are only inviting people to come and say their own part of the story,” Alkali said.
On why the interpol wrote to the self-styled whistleblowers who brought information to the House, the IGP said that part of his responsibility was to assist law enforcement agents with tools to carry out their investigations.
He also said that the interpol is a different arm of the police force and has different responsibilities and duties.
“The interpol has nothing to do with national police,” he stressed, staring that the interpol cannot be used to witch-hunt anyone.
The IGP was represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Garba Baba Umar.
The Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Honourable Mark Gbilla, wondered why the whistle blowers who came to give more details to the House were being hunted.
He said that one of the whistle blowers was supposed to be at the hearing but was afraid and feel intimidated.
“We found out that your department wrote to those two individual which is not a coincidence. Why did the interpol write to them before they came to the House?” Gbilla asked.
The committee chairman employed the interpol to respect the House and stop the harassment and intimidation of persons of interest to the House.
More Cooperation
He called for more cooperation by the interpol towards the success of the investigation.
He also said that the committee plans to go to Mexico to investigate the allegations.
The chairman, however, stressed that the IGP needed to appear before the committee as there are still questions for him to answer personally
Our correspondent learnt that the whistle blowers are facing trial also by the EFCC and their earlier bail has been revoked with continuation of the case slated for March 15, 2023.
Confidence Okwuchi
