Senator Misau and the Burden of Proofs

 

 

Since the past three weeks, the Nigeri­an media have been feasting on allegations and counter allegations between the Nigeria Police Force and Senator Isah Hamman Misau, representing Bauchi Central. 

 

Senator Misau, a former policeman rose through the ranks to the rank of a Dep­uty Superintendent of Po­lice (DSP) before he desert­ed, according to the police authorities and joined pol­itics. 

 

Misau, on August 22, 2017, in a media interview alleged that the police top hierarchy collects bribe for promotions. Also, while briefing the media at a let­ter date, Misau accused the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the PSC chairman, IGP Mike Okiro (Rtd.), of corruption. 

 

He also alleged while responding to questions on a programme in Channels Television that he was in­formed? that some oil com­panies pay monies into the account of the Nigeria Po­lice Force for security the police provided for them. 

 

Misau also shameless­ly said that he was also told that the IGP Idris is col­lecting money for lucrative postings, all these are alle­gations that he never come out to proof. I want Nigerians and his fans to join me to beg the lawmaker to come out and substantiate his claims with facts and evidences so that this matter can rest finally. 

 

With these weighty and serious allegations, there is the need for Misau to come up with proofs for Nigeri­ans to believe what he is saying. This is a heavy burden he must off-load. Nigeri­ans are therefore, anxious­ly waiting. There is a principle in law popularly known as Onus Probandi which states that it is the duty of a party to present evidence on the facts in an issue nec­essary to establish his claim.

 

 It is also a well- known fact that he who alleges also has the burden of proof considering that allegations do not prove themselves. Misau, as a former po­lice man knows very well how to gather evidences and facts of an issue.

 

 He should therefore, assist Ni­gerians by bringing out his proofs either through presentation of testimoni­al, documentary or object. It is only through this, that Nigerians can take him se­rious. Senator Misau should come out with the lists of names of oil companies, how much they paid and the channel through which the payments were made to the IGP or any other top police officer as contained in his allegations.

 

 It is however, shameful for Misau, as enlightened as he is, to tell the world in a global TV station that he is basing his allegations in un­substantiated rumours and side ?talks. It would be recalled that when Senator Misau on Au­gust 22, 2017, first raised the allegation that the po­lice top hierarchy collects bribe for promotions, the Inspector General of Po­lice (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, immediately, sets up a pan­el to dig into the issue in an effort to halt the practice, if found to be true. 

 

The committee, as part of its fact findings, invited the Senator to shade more light on his allegations, but he refused to honour the in­vitation. Even though one is not in any way trying to defend the Nigeria Police Force, one is however, tempted to view the allegations by Mi­sau with suspicion, hence can best be described as done with malicious and bad intention with the aim of achieving an ulterior mo­tive. 

 

Misau should please come out and talk to Nige­rians so that we can all put this matter to rest. The suspicions sur­rounding Senator Misau?s allegations are premised on the fact that a panel was constituted and he was in­vited, but he refused to hon­our both invitations send directly to him and the one sent through the Senate President. The Panel also took the pain and went to Senator Misau at the National As­sembly for discussion, he also refused to say any­thing.

 

The Police Service Com­mission (PSC), the body re­sponsible for promotion, welfare and discipline of the Police Force, also few days ago, invited Senator Misau, as at today, there is no re­cord that he has honoured that invitation. 

 

Senator Misau was ADC to three successive minis­ters of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), if trans­fers, promotions and post­ing in the Nigeria Police Force is riddled by corrup­tion, as alleged by Misau, it then implies that Senator Misau paid heavily to re­tain such posting under past IGP?s and not Idris. 

Misau should tell Nigeri­ans how much he paid to the previous IGPs he worked under to retain his posting as ADC to three consecutive ministers of the FCT. Misau, please come out and oblige the public with proofs of your allegations, as millions of Nigerians who are desirous of sanitiz­ing the Nigeria Police Force are curiously waiting. 

 

Senator Misau should also know that it is a pub­lic knowledge that his son -in-law is allegedly a serving Assistant Inspector Gener­al (AIG) of Police presently serving at the National In­stitute of Policy and Strate­gic Studies (NIPSS). 

 

It is also alleged that Senator Misau has spent over three hundred million naira (N300,000,000.00) to lobby in order to displace IGP Idris so that his son in-law will replace him. Misau should know that he has a heavy burden rest­ing on his shoulders which will follow him to his grave when he is called to rest by his Maker until and when he decides to proof these allegations. 

 

Misau should know that, as a Muslim, (if he is a true one), this is one of the is­sues he will answer before his creator if it is left un­substantiated and without proofs. It is therefore, necessary to stress here that as long as these allegations remain un­substantiated, Misau should apologise to the Nigeria Po­lice Force and indeed, entire Nigerians for raising false allegations and heating up the polity unnecessarily.

 

 It is therefore, expedient for one to appeal to Sena­tor Misau to please leave the IGP and the entire Nigeria Police Force alone. He has left the Force, hence, should not be a stumbling block to its success. 

 

He should allow the IGP to continue the good work he is currently doing in an effort to halt crime and criminality in all parts of the country. Nigerians are living witnesses to the many remarkable achievements the Nigeria Police Force is recording in recent times. 

 

 

Source: Authority Newspaper