BEVERLY HILLS, October 24, (THEWILL) – The immediate past Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Solomon Arase, has attributed the newspaper report that 19 assorted vehicles belonging to the police were recovered from him to “some forces were bent on tarnishing” his reputation.
He stated this in a statement issued on Monday in reaction to the report that 19 out of 24 vehicles he allegedly took away upon retirement from the Nigeria Police Force had been recovered from him.
While challenging those behind the story to make the number plates of the vehicles public available and state where they were recovered from, Arase threatened that he would not hesitate to seek legal redress against “those desperate to tarnish his image”.
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had in July accused his predecessor, Solomon Arase, of carting away 24 vehicles belonging to the police, claiming that he had written Arase to return the cars, which included two official bullet-proof BMW 7 series cars.
Responding on July 18, Arase denied claims by his successor that he went away with 24 police vehicles, calling on Idris to cross check his handover notes which contain whatever information is needed on the vehicles bought by the police.
The latest statement of the former IGP reads, “It is embarrassing for me to wake up on Monday morning to be inundated with calls and messages on purported 19 vehicles recovered from me. I wish to reassure the general public that there was nothing like that.
“Like I said in July, I did not take any police vehicle with me outside what I am entitled to, and so, there couldn’t have been any vehicle recovered from me. If there was any such, those behind this campaign of calumny should please make the number plates of the vehicles public and where they were recovered from.
“Rather than dissipating so much energy on ‘project drag Arase down’, I urge those behind this evil campaign to face their official responsibility for which much is expected from them by the nation. I have done my bit and my own records bear me witness. Let those daily frightened by the shadow of Arase learn to face reality and stop chasing shadows so that they are not hunted by same,” Arase stated.
Story by Ugonnabo Ngwu
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