By Monday Osayande
The Police in Delta State have nabbed one Michael Panama who resides at Aladja in the Udu local government area of the State for allegedly offering N1.2 million bribe to Police to cover up the syndicate of Nigerian and Indian criminals vandalizing the Delta Steel Company (DSC) now Premium Steel and Mines Limited (PSML) infrastructure valued at millions of Naira.
The police also said three trucks fully loaded with an assortment of iron and steel items vandalized and stolen from DSC were impounded
The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, who confirmed this in an interview in Asaba on Friday, said Panama is connected with an Indian national coordinating the criminal activities of the syndicate of economic saboteurs to ruin the company.
Inuwa hinted that the Indian National is currently on the run following the interception of the three trucks with the vandalized DSC equipment.
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The Police boss revealed that the police was also in custody of N1.2m allegedly recovered from the suspect, “who is now helping us in our investigations”.
Inuwa, while condemning the act of economic sabotage by expatriates and some unscrupulous Nigerians, vowed to get to bottom of the vandalizing and theft of DSC equipment and fittings with a view to fish out those involved and prosecute them.
He stated that following a tip-off a few days ago, a crack team was put together that immediately proceeded to impound the three trucks laden with the offensive items.
However, he said that a suspect was subsequently apprehended by the police when the syndicate attempted to make the police compromise and cover up the ugly deal in a bid to release the impounded trucks to them.
He explained, “As soon as the information came to me, I despatched a crack team, which swiftly went into action, impounded or recovered three trucks loaded with the items vandalized from DSC Aladja, near Warri.
“As we did this, they thought we were going to play ball. They were thinking they could corrupt everybody and that they we would compromise. As we speak, one of the suspects is with us.
“We arrested him, one Michael Panama, a native of the area who they tried to use to compromise the police. He was used with a view to make the police compromise, not knowing that we are not the type of policemen that will see such economic sabotage happening in our country and we’ll keep quiet.
“They wired the sum of one-point-two million naira N1.2 million) with a view to bribing even law enforcement personnel – of course the police – so that they couldn’t get those items released.
“As we speak, the suspect is with us, the three trucks loaded with the items vandalized and stolen are with the police; and, the money is with us, and we will tender it – as a matter of fact we have already tendered it – as part exhibits recovered.
“We will never, and can never, compromise on the integrity of this job. We cannot compromise with people who are out to sabotage the economy of this nation. DSC Aladja is a critical national infrastructure even though it has been concessioned to some Indians.
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“I believe such things are happening because of the connivance of so many people. I assure you, under my watch, there will be no compromise with criminals and those sabotaging the economy of this country. We are not going to relent in our efforts to thoroughly investigate this matter. We are going to get it to the logical conclusion. And, anybody involved, honestly, we are not going to spare such a person or persons no matter how highly placed. By the grace of God, we are going to fish out such a person or persons.”
In addition, Mr. Inuwa added, “Look, nobody will be spared no matter how highly placed. If we will not spare a Nigerian, why should we spare somebody who is not a Nigerian?
“What we are doing is for the best interest of this country. So, anybody whether Nigerian or expatriate, I assure you, we are not going to spare such persons.”
