Ondo Police Commissioner Denies Withdrawing Deputy Governor’s Police Escorts

The Ondo state Commissioner of Police, Salami Bolaji, has denied withdrawing police escorts from the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.

Bolaji said Police Commissioners does not have the powers to withdraw policemen attached to Deputy Governors. He said he was in the state to serve everyone and would not do anything that may be inimical to the lives and property of anyone.

“Let it be clearly understood that the posting of policemen to Deputy Governors in the country is the prerogative of the Inspector-General of Police and no Commissioner of Police can call for their withdrawal.

“However, let it be known that policemen attached to Government Houses take directives from the Chief Security Officer to the Governor who can post and withdraw according to the reason and purpose that suit him.

“But cannot for whatever reason withdraw policemen posted from the Force Headquarters to a Deputy Governor,” he said.

Agboola has on Wednesday raised an alarm over the withdrawal of police escorts in his entourage. He told people of the state to hold Bolaji responsible should anything happen to him.

The Police Commissioner on Sunday got involved in the political drama between Agboola and the Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, when he blocked the Deputy Governor from leaving the Government House in a Hilux vehicle attached to his house on claims that he planned to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).