Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhyi Magaji Rimin Gado, has described withdrawal of the policemen attached to the commission as corruption fighting back.
In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the development was sequel to routine staff audit being carried out by the command.
Kiyawa said rather it was meant to ascertain the exact number of police personnel seconded to the commission.
He said the move was also meant to understand the reporting line and nature of duties assigned to each police officer since their deployment to the commission in 2015.
“The exercise was simply a response to series of reports received through the Command’s Complaint Response Unit (CRU).
They portrayed policemen attached to the commission as being highhanded and deviating from the expected role of providing static guard and other duties at the commission.
“For the purposes of clarity, members of the public are to note that the object of the ongoing staff audit is basically to address the litany of complaints as reported by sections of the media,” he said.
He explained that the action became imperative to correct the anomalies in the operations of the commission as police officers were being used to effect arrest and investigation of cases.
This, he said, was a deviation from the officers’ originally assigned mandate and which must be corrected.
“In summary the step is towards ensuring a better and effective service delivery by the policemen devoid of abuse of process in the interest of the people.
It will be recalled that similar exercises were conducted in the past from the inception of the commission in 2015 and the men were returned to their duty posts at the conclusion of the exercises,” he said.
He said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had approved the immediate return of a number of police officers providing guard at the commission who had gone through the audit process.
“Should the commission require more policemen for other duties than what has been expressly approved by the IGP, it should apply to IGP for approval and deployment.
However, reacting on Friday while addressing newsmen in his office, the chairman said policemen working in the commission exhibit professionalism and do not compromise, especially when investigating high-profile cases.
“If you are fighting corruption you step on toes and you would not be forgiven.bSo corruption is fighting back.
“From the look of things there are people trying to stop the commission from its work,” Rimin Gado stated.
He commended the police authorities for clarifying their position on the withdrawal which was hinged on personnel audit, saying that there was a communication gap from what had happened.
Rimin Gado said he was not the only one taking the heat as police officers involved in investigation of high-profile cases are also taking the heat.
He, however said they would not relent but continue to do the job devoid of compromise.
He said between 50 and 100 court orders were served on the commission, asking it to stop investigation of some high-profile personalities, the latest, according to him, was the order given by Justice AM Liman of the federal high court Kano.
Muhyi said the commission has worthy partners in the police, DSS and ministry of Justice, adding that states like Jigawa and Benue were emulating what PCACC is doing.
