By Francis Sadhere

THE Delta State police command has denied that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Baba Alkali was ever involved in a 500KVA Mikano generating plant scam as reported in an online publication of June 7, 2016 by the Sahara Reporters New York with the Caption, “Delta State Police Commissioner Usman Baba Alkali Is Embroiled In a Scam Involving a  5000 KVA Mikano Power-Generating Plant.”

Alkali Usman Baba, Delta state Commissioner of police.

In a rejoinder by the State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, she described the publication  as false, malicious and calculated attempt to tarnish the good image, integrity and impeccable character of CP Usman.

She said, “To put the facts straight, the Command never at any time had 5000KVA MIKANO generator mounted at the State Headquarters, Asaba since it moved to the present site in 2001.

“However, the Command would like to intimate the reading public that a Perking 250KVA donated to the Police Command by James Ibori led administration in 2001 started malfunctioning and all efforts made by immediate past Commissioner of Police to fix the generator was to no avail as it finally packed up in 2014.

“Equally, there is no Ten (10) million naira monthly security vote meant for maintenance, being collected or made available by Delta State government to the office Commissioner of Police.”

She added that the Force Headquarters Purchasing and Tenders Board in line with the provisions of the relevant section of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 requested for the list of unserviceable items from the command and in its meeting held on Wednesday, 20th January, 2016 approved the disposal by public auction of Perking 250KVA among other unserviceable items in the command after the Board of Survey and Enquiry constituted for that purpose had done physical inspection.