Contrary to reports that the official driver of Governor Udom Emmanuel is not personnel of the Nigeria Police, Akwa Ibom State commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah has said that Mr. Bassey Edet is a bona fide officer of the force.

Speaking yesterday in his office on a story   reported in a national daily(not LEADERSHIP)   purporting that the driver is involved in police impersonation saga, Mr. Umanah said that Edet is a certified, trained spy policeman and therefore, cannot be said to be an impersonator.

He said that Mr Edet’s Police Force Identification Number is 1522, having attended Police Training School, Ikeja, Lagos State, and wondered how he could be accused of breaching any rules by wearing his   uniform.

Umanah, who displayed photocopies of Mr Edet’s Police identity card and certificates, explained   that the officer is duly trained personnel of the police, working with the state government.

He dismissed as false, the allegation that the governor’s driver was defrauding financial   institutions by taking multiple salaries, saying “I have it in good authority that the bank   referred to in that false publication, like other international organisations, does not hire   drivers, therefore, and could not have had his name on its payroll.”

He decried the partisan disposition of some reporters in Akwa Ibom State, which he said is well known.

"believe sahara reporters, at your own risk". Quote me anywhere.