The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has labelled a report on its sports levy deduction by some sections of the media as mischievous and a calculated attempt to rubbish its integrity.
Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a statement said, “These claims are baseless and misleading, calculated to deceive the public and rubbish the integrity of the Force.
“In as much as the Force does not intend to dignify the unprofessionalism and falsehood of the media outlets, it has however become rife to correct the baseless and misleading news publication aimed at maligning the person and integrity of the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD., NPM, with regards to the Police Annual Sports Levy deduction.”
Adejobi said that NPF Sports is primarily funded by an annual deduction which has been in force from time immemorial.
According to him, this was consolidated in the year 2003 and reviewed by the management of the Force in the year 2012.
He noted that the deduction credited to the new Acting IGP Egbetokun was approved some months before his appointment.
Adejobi said that any attempt to sensationalize this longstanding annual practice and personalizing it to the current Inspector General of Police is not only mischievous but a disservice to the above stated facts.
“It is evident that the purveyors of this disinformation are poised to mislead the public by distorting the truth and creating unnecessary mischief,” Adejobi said.
“The Force, therefore, strongly urges the public and media outlets to verify information and desist from spreading baseless claims calculated at tarnishing the image of the Nigeria Police Force while encouraging well-meaning Nigerians to discountenance the malicious publication.”
