Some rights groups have called on the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Mr. Solomon Arase and the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to discipline an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Akoko Obadiah, and his colleagues over alleged criminal exploitation of a complainant to the tune of one million, one hundred naira (N1.1m).
The call was contained in a joint statement by the Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Human Rights Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE) in Onitsha, made available to newsmen on Monday.
The statement was signed by High Chief Uzor A. Uzor, who is the CD Chairman in the South East and Executive Director, of HURIDE.
It was gathered that Durafor had petitioned the IGP alleging attempted murder, kidnap attempt, maiming, unlawful and forcible entry, and malicious damage of his property by one Mr Onyebuchi Nweke and his boys, said to be numbering about 25.
According to a petition by Duruofor’s lawyer, F.U.Idiake, Nweke and his boys allegedly armed to the teeth, had entered Plot 310, Omalicha Layout, Oze, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, belonging to Pastor Duruofor and maliciously destroyed the place.
Duruofor’s lawyer alleged in the petition that ASP Obadiah was said to have been assigned to come down from Force Headquarters, Abuja to pick Nweke and take him back to Abuja for questioning.
“ASP Obadiah had demanded N1.1m covering the return ticket for himself and his second as well as other expenses including the suspect tickets which were paid to him fully.
“Unfortunately, when Obadiah came down for the operation, they arrested Nweke but instead of taking him to Abuja, they took him to 3-3 Police Station where he was set free immediately after an underhand deal in the presence of the suspect.
“This prompted the said suspect to engage in abusing pastor Duruofor boasting that he has done his worst and nothing will happen.
“Obadiah simply told the complainant whose property was maliciously damaged and had paid him N1.1m that he would call to tell him when to come to Abuja, but till now, Obadiah has yet to invite them.
“Obadiah boasted that he was working under the instructions of the DIG in charge of the Force’s criminal investigation department,” Duruofor’s lawyer’s statement disclosed.
In their joint statement, the CD and HURIDE are lamenting the increasing professional misconduct by some officers and men of the Nigerian Police.
They are insisting that ASP Obadiah should not only be disciplined by demoting him to the next lower rank but should also be made to refund the N1.1m he allegedly collected from the complainant Pastor Chukwudi Duruofor.
“Disciplining Obadiah and his colleague has become imperative not only to recover the complainant’s money but to also equally serve as a deterrent to other corrupt Police officers, who put the image of the Police to ridicule,” High Chief Uzor advised both the IGP and PSC chair.
