Akwa Ibom gov’s driver in police impersonation scandal – Punch newspaper

By Etim Ekpimah and Olaleye Aluko

The driver to Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State Mr. Edet Bassey, has been accused of impersonating a policeman while discharging his duties.

According to an online news medium, SaharaReporters, sources close to the governor, who confirmed the impersonation, said Bassey had been wearing the police uniform for some time unchecked.
Bassey, who hails from Cross River State, was said to have started working with the governor since he (Udom) was a senior management official of the Zenith Bank Plc.
It was learnt that Bassey and others had gone with the governor after he (Udom) left the bank for a political appointment.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Bassey, whose name was on the civilian drivers’ list in the government house, allegedly promoted himself to the rank of a sergeant.
He said, “We have been wondering why someone, who is not a policeman should be dressing as one simply because he drives the governor. However, no one has been able to raise an eyebrow on the issue for fear of being victimised by the governor. The driver started by using the rank of a corporal, but later promoted himself to a sergeant.
“On some days, he will put on the Mopol camouflage with the blue beret which is only meant for officers in the Special Protection Unit, a squad that protects some top government personalities. He has been doing this despite the fact that his name is on the civilian drivers’ list in the Government House. But because he is the governor’s favourite, nobody dares to question him.”
The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said the governor was entitled to a police driver, and he had one. Umanah, however, refused to disclose if Bassey, was a policeman or not.
“The Office of the Governor is a very responsible office. It works within approved entitlement,” he added.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nwawe Cordelia, said the command had no knowledge of the information. She declined further comment.
She said, “The Nigeria Police, Akwa Ibom State Police Command, has no such person spoken about in the report. We cannot comment on what is not known to us. We do not have such information.”
The Force Public Relations Officer, acting ACP Olabisi Kolawole, said she would get back to our correspondent on the matter. She, however, had yet to get back as of press time.
She said, “Let me get across to the state Commissioner of Police, and I will call you back.”
Culled from Punch newspaper