Hopes of scores of policemen in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, to receive their September salaries were dashed this morning as the N11.7 million meant for their salaries has been stolen.
Lagos-based P.M.NEWS reports that the money was stolen from the Nigerian Police Force Micro Finance Bank situated within Ikeja Police College at GRA.
The money was paid into the bank on Friday and there was no sign of burglary when it was discovered missing this morning.
When P.M.NEWS visited the bank yesterday at about 10.1 5 a.m., many policemen who stormed the bank were disappointed as they could not collect their salary.
They were directed to go to another branch of the microfinance bank at Obalende for the payment of their salaries.
When P.M.NEWS attempted to speak with the manager at the Microfinance Bank, he declined to comment on the incident.
When contacted on phone, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Samuel Jinadu said he was driving.
At the bank at the back of the office of the Commandant of the Police College, P.M.NEWS correspondents saw police detectives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, investigating the incident.
Before the N11.7 million simply grew wings and disappeared between last Friday and yesterday, corruption cases were and investigated at the Police College.
Police sources told P.M.NEWS that officers who attended promotion courses from the rank of Inspector to Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, were compelled to pay N7,000 each.
The officers are said to be divided into three batches. A batch has up to 15,000 policemen and there could be three of such batches for the promotion course that lasts only three weeks.
Our source said Constables and Corporals are also compelled to pay at least N5,000 each before they are allowed to take part in promotion courses.
P.M.NEWS learnt that because of these alleged sharp practices, policemen now lobby to work at the Police College.
The corruption allegations at the college are being investigated by a panel headed by ACP Noah Adesanyin. Other members of the panel are CSP Emmanuel Ighodalo, a former Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, and four high-ranking police officers.