Katsina anti-graft agency seeks police support

The Chairman, Katsina State Anti Corruption Commission, Lawal Garba, on Monday, led other members of the anti-graft agency on a familiarisation visit to the state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar at the Command headquarters, Katsina.

Garba said they were at the CP office to seek his support considering the importance of the police force to commission in the fight against corruption.

“Our commission is like a prosecution agency because we hear complaints. The law says if the complaint is meritable and appropriate, we will take, investigate, and hand it over to our lawyers or prosecutors in the relevant court.

“This commission, I started as a grade 11 magistrate and became a high court judge, so I know the importance of the Police. Going by the law, we cannot function, satisfy and accomplish without you, in particular, the police force. It is in the light of this for us to succeed and going by the law, we shall hand over the law to you, we need this partnership more with or without those in uniform.

“The law provides us with the headquarters in Katsina and our Zonal offices in Funtua, Katsina and Daura and to be headed by a police officer, not below the rank of inspector. The law also has investigators, corruption, money laundry and others. All these, we cannot do without your help. In light of that, we like assistance, we need SIB, CID and we know you have a shortage of manpower especially in local government areas but look into our consideration,” he stated.

Responding, Aliyu pledged to give the state anti-graft agency maximum support, suggesting that a retired police officer should be incorporated into the commission for the facilitation of cases.

He said, “About your request, my doors are open but I want to find out why didn’t you incorporate a retired police officer from the rank of either ASP or DC to be part of the commission. So that he would have facilitated a lot of things because he was part of us before retiring and you might have a very good investigator.”

Arewa PUNCH reports that the administration of Governor Dikko Umar Radda in late 2023, established the anti-graft commission to stem the tide of corruption in the state.