Officers and men of the Lagos State Police Command have cried out over an alleged fraud in the Police Cooperative Society.

They are accusing the authorities of the force of failure to remit to their accounts funds deducted from their salaries, running into millions of naira.

The policemen are, therefore, calling on the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Suleiman Abba, who incidentally is the Chairman of the Police Cooperative Society, to look into the alleged fraud going on in the society.

According to a source, who did not want his name mentioned, the monthly deduction being made on their salaries had not been credited to their accounts since February 2014, subjecting most of them who needed loans and sundry financial assistance to hardship.

“It is unfortunate that this has to happen despite that we make such contributions for the rainy day,” the source said.

However, the Acting IGP has dismissed such fears, saying as chairman of the society, he is well abreast of the goings-on in the system.

Abba said: “I was, and I still remain the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Police Cooperative Society. So, as chairman, I cannot claim ignorance of what happens there.

“I must tell you, the system in handling deductions in police cooperatives has been going on for many years; if anybody is complaining or is having problems with crediting his account I think something is really wrong.”

According to him, even if such challenge exists, it is only because the authorities of the society at the headquarters have been struggling to computerise their activities.

He added that although there could be delays in remittances, it did not suffice to assume that somebody was tampering with the funds.

“I must tell you, I was worried because up till last week some of us were still perhaps complaining, I think it has even gone beyond complaints. Some said it was fraudulent particularly in the social media and if I tell you I was not worried I will be telling lies because my hands were in it,” he said

Assuring that the computerization process would be completed soon, Abba said he had also given orders that the project be given to a new contractor.

Abba said he would not allow anyone to take advantage of doing business with the force to cheat her.

“I have since given directives that what we started should be completed and that we should bring in new contractors. I think if we continue to follow them up, we will get there. I think with that computerisation, problems of this nature won’t arise again. There may be delays, but nothing fraudulent.”

He urged officers and men of the force to shun rumours and divisive tendencies, saying, “we will not be involved in taking what does not belong to us. Whatever we do will be in your interest and that of your families.

“So, I want to urge you to continue to exhibit that spirit of discipline, loyalty to the service; that command structure of obeying the leader. On our own part, we will always take you to where you should be.”

The IGP also directed the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigeria Police Force Mortgage Bank, Usman Isa Baba, to explain if there were other reasons for the delay in remitting funds.

Baba, however, explained that the deductions were always remitted but that with the budget this year, there was a little delay, a development he said had since been rectified.

“We, in fact, liaised with the CP Budget and that has been taken care of,” he said.

•Text courtesy of National Mirror. Photo shows IGP/Chairman of Board of Directors, Police Cooperative Society, Suleiman Abba.

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