Gombe NSCDC threatens to sue IPMAN over alleged bribery
Following the allegation of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), that officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) collected bribe from their members to set free arrested operators and staff.
State Commandant Waziri Goni has debunked the insinuations, saying that the command has been purged of corruption and would not involve in taking bribes to release IPMAN members.
Goni warned the Association to desist from defaming officers of the command who were working assiduously to ensure that Gombe residents enjoyed unhindered fuel supply at Government approved price, vowing to take the zonal leadership of IPMAN to court.
The Commandant made this assertion on Friday, while briefing journalists on the corps efforts in curbing sharp practices, in its attempt to debunk corruption charges by the Association.
According to him, about 30 persons who were arrested by Gombe NSCDC officials have been charged to court, and were granted bail.
He said, “So I am surprised that those same people who came here begging us us to release their people after series of meetings with them now go out to misinformed the public that we take bribery from them. That is why we are determined to make sure they go and explain themselves in a court of law. This is a serious allegation and we are not going to take it lightly with them.”
Goni lamented that on several occasions the NSCDC had held meetings with IPMAN only for them to go and do contrary to the agreement in the meeting.
“On several occasions I have warned them not to give bribe to my men and to also report any of my men that demands for bribe from them. So if there is any of such case, this office is open to them to lodge their complaints and it will be treated expressly. In any case, bribe is an offense that no serious security agency will overlook. So I am going to take this one up and they have to name that officer who took bribe from them,” he said.
Goni bemoaned IPMAN’s decision to continue to sell petrol higher than the pump price approved for them by the government, adding that the public should pray against those causing them trouble in the country.
“I am saying this because I know that God answer the prayers of the masses faster because I don’t know why some people will just deliberately want to make the masses to suffer more in this country.
“On many occasions, I go out in the night around 2 am or 3 am to make arrest of some of these people who are now trying to tarnish the image of the organisation saying we are troubling them. Well let me make it clear that our job is to continue to trouble them as long as they refuse to follow the law of this country in doing their business,” he added.
