The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) yesterday told an Abuja High Court how former inspector general of police (IGP), Mr. Sunday Ehindaro received an interest of N16 million out of the N557.9 million donated to the Nigeria Police Force by the Bayelsa State Government for the procurement of arms, ammunition and riot control equipment.
A prosecution witness, Mr. Olayinka Adebayo who disclosed this under cross-examination by counsel to Ehindero, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN) claimed that the former police boss diverted the money for his personal use. The witness further disclosed that Intercontinental Bank paid the money in cash to Ehindero. In addition, he told Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi that when the ICPC invited the accused persons, they could not account for how the money was spent.
Adebayo had earlier testified that he led an investigation team, which discovered that another former IGP Hafiz Ringim, who was then commissioner of police in Bayesa State, paid the money. He equally alleged that the accused persons placed N200 million out of the amount in a fixed deposit account at the Intercontinental Bank Plc, where it had generated an interest of N16.5 million.
According to Adebayo, during the cause of investigation, the team visited Bayelsa State to get evidence of when the money was approved. The former police chief had earlier pleaded not guilty to the six-count criminal charge preferred against him by the ICPC. He was docked alongside a former commissioner of police in-charge of budget, Mr. John Obaniyi. Justice Oniyangi adjourned the case to June 27, for continuation of trial.
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