Indications emerged on Wednesday that senior police officers of the Edo State Police Command covering next Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State have been asked to pay N5,500 in order to facilitate the transportation of the 550 policemen deployed to Edo.
About 550 policemen were drafted from the state to cover the election slated for Saturday, September 10.
However, a directive from the office of the command’s Deputy Commissioner in charge of Criminal Investigation Department ordered policemen to pay N5,500 each to facilitate the movement to Edo.
The memo titled, ‘Police Wireless Message,’ and signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, was made available to PUNCH correspondent in Calabar.
The memo addressed to all sectional heads in Calabar had the reference number DTO: 061432/09/2016.
It stated, “In view of the election scheduled for 10/09/2016, you are directed to pay the sum of N5, 500 each for transportation. Payment to reach me on or before Wednesday, September 9, 2016 (sic). Treat as very important please.”
But the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, denied the claims, saying it was false.
He said what he was asked to do was to provide 550 policemen from the command for the election and to provide vehicles to convey them.
Ozi-Obeh added that he had already arranged for 10 pickup vans and two lorries that would convey the officers for the exercise.
“I have brought the Assistant Commissioner of Cross River Police Operations, Sani Salihu, who is in charge of the movement. He can confirm the arrangement we are making.
“Whoever told you that we have demanded policemen to pay that amount is a liar. You can go to my personnel to further verify.
“And whoever has paid such money should go and collect his money. Journalists should be careful in their speculative reports,” he said.
