There are so many angles to this probe. There are several questions that are begging for answers. Nigerians are anxious to know details of the financial transactions of the government outfit which has several billions of both public funds as well as huge private sectors donations in its kitty. What was the Funds mode of operations while it lasted? Who and who called the shots? Questions, just questions, which answers, Nigerians are anxiously awaiting.

Chief Kenny Martins served as National Coordinator of the Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund vides a letter with reference NP/1 153/193, and dated 9th March 2006. The letter signed by Garba Buwai, permanent secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs on behalf of the minister read in part: "I write to inform you that the President, Commander-in-Chief, has approved your appointment as National Coordinator of the Presidential Committee on Police Fund. The Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund is charged with the responsibility of mobilising funds for the procurement of essential equipment and logistics for the Nigeria Police Force. The committee, which will be inaugurated on behalf of Mr. President by the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, will take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday 14, March 2006 at 10.00a.m prompt"

Section 88 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vests the authority to investigate activities of public institutions on both chambers of the National Assembly, the legal instrument upon which the House of Representatives draws its powers to entertain petitions. This power formed the legal strength for the investigation.

The House of Representatives had at its sitting on December 12, 2007, while reacting to a petition by one Dr. Godson Ewulum, also a member of the Fund calling its attention to the activities of the PCPEF, mandated its Committee on Public Petitions to investigate the Fund, thus vesting its powers of investigation of public institutions on the Committee of Public Petitions.

About two weeks ago, the inaugural sitting of the committee had some hitches apparently due to misconceptions in certain quarters about its assignment. The Chairman; Hon. CID Maduabum took pains in explaining the job of the panel. His painstaking explanation was in obvious response to objections raised by counsels to both the Police Equipment Fund and its coordinator, Chief Kenny Martins. Both counsels, Dr Tunji Abayomi and Mike Ozekhome had albeit erroneously made references to the Police Equipment Foundation run by Martins as the subject of the enquiries which Maduabum responded by clarifying that the issue at stake was the activities of the Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund, constituted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006 to serve as platform for public-private sector partnership in procurement of relevant equipment for the Nigeria Police.

Again, lawyers to the PCPEF argued that since the issue was in court, the House lacked the jurisdiction to sit on it. But they were countered by counsel to the petitioner, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who submitted that the House was not served any injunction and was therefore right to probe into the matter. Hon. Maduabum having heard from both sides decided that the committee would go ahead with the investigation.

Kenny Martins did not testify before the panel and the chairman, Hon. Maduabum has threatened to subpoena any person who refused to honour invitation of the probe committee. Several banks and other corporate organisations that either contributed money or transacted business with the PCPEF were at the inaugural sitting to tell their side of the story. One of the startling revelations at the hearing was the allegations that a dead man, late Mr. Joseph Agharite purportedly signed a document appointing some people as directors. "The company purportedly met on March 31, 2006, two weeks after the inauguration of the fund, in an extra-ordinary general meeting, purportedly attended by Agharite who had died more than five months before then and passed a resolution also purportedly signed by Agharite on the 31st of March, 2006 appointing Kenny Martins and Dumuje as directors.

"Mr. Kenny Martins and his cohorts have since gone on a spending spree. Cars were bought indiscriminately without input from the police as to specification and costs. Instead of equipping the police and because he knew public out cry was to come, Kenny Martins first compromised the following agencies by donating cars to them on the following dates: State Security Services 21 May 2005; EFCC April 2007, Nigeria Navy September 2007, Nigeria Army 2 august, 2007; Directorate of Military Intelligence and Nigerian Customs and Excise 13 August 2007; Federal Ministry of Interior 25 July, 2007; Nigeria Civil Defence Corps 15 May 2007; Nigeria Immigration September 2007; Nigeria Intelligence Agency 3 August 2007. The police was given its first batch of luxury cars in June 2007.

From the list above, is it not absurd that the EFCC and the SSS were the first to benefit from Police Funds even before the police itself? It was clearly aimed at compromising them", Keyamo had alleged.

Another interesting aspect of the probe was the disclosure by the representative of the federal ministry of finance that N7.47 Billion of the local governments' funds was deducted from source as contribution to the Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund. This is a matter that should be of interest to all Nigerians considering the state of our local councils. There is virtually no development at the third tier of government. And most curious is the fact the police has not fared better especially the welfare of its men and officers. A visit to a police station or barracks would confirm what I am talking about. The state of their office and residential accommodation is appalling. Therefore, if monies meant for the police could be so mismanaged as alleged by the petitioner, there is every need for the public to know what went into the heads of those entrusted with the funds. It is a fact that the matter is before the law court but it is also before the court of public opinion. Hence the argument that the Police Equipment Fund is a private concern and cannot be subjected to parliamentary scrutiny does not arise at all.

In arguing that the PEF was a public trust, Keyamo had cited the inaugural speech of the then Minister of Police affairs, Brodericks Bozimo in which he said, "In the spirit of the arguments that led to the creation of agencies such as the Education Trust Fund, a bill was submitted to the National Assembly in 2002 for the establishment of a Police Trust Fund. While that Bill is going on through the required administrative processes in the National Assembly, Mr. President has given approval in the interim for the setting up of a Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund (PCPEF). Composed of renowned and highly respected individuals of impeccable integrity in the society, this committee will be responsible for the management of the funds that will be solicited from public-spirited individuals and organisations for the purpose of pro-active intervention in the provision of equipment and services for the police. The committee will submit annual reports of its activities to Mr. President through the Ministry of Police Affairs".

But according to Keyamo, the PCPEF has not rendered its account since inception thereby necessitating the petition before the House. Now, the onus is on the national coordinator and his team to open up on their activities before the House Committee on Public Petitions so that Nigerians would know how the funds that were generated from both private and public institutions on behalf of the government for the purpose of equipping the police has been utilised. It also behoves on the committee to ensure that it is thorough, free and fair in the investigation. The police have suffered for long, therefore anything meant for it should not be misused. We have to encourage people to help the government in making the police an effective and attractive force.