The Nigerian Police Force on Wednesday disclosed that an investigation into an alleged smuggling scandal of New Bank Notes totaling N74,950,000 revealed that some officers attempted to steal N43,160,000 of the money.
The Police said the fund was being moved on behalf of clients.
It would be recalled that the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun was accused of shielding a cartel of currency smugglers.
But the force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi while giving clarification on the matter, noted, โThis group of officers conspired and stole part of the money, amounting to N43,160,000, and tasked one of them to move the cash out of the FCT for hiding pending when the heat blows over.”
He said the allegations of currency smuggling were thoroughly investigated, the Police officers were found to have acted illegally by intercepting the cash and detaining an employee of the company which owned the money without authorization.
ACP Adejobiโs statement reads, โThe Nigeria Police Force has noted with concern the recent allegations circulating in the media, suggesting that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, is shielding a cartel accused of smuggling suspicious new banknotes from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
โThe NPF categorically refutes these claims, condemning them as baseless and orchestrated attempts to tarnish the IGPโs reputation and the integrity of the Force.
โThe incident in question, which occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on August 26, 2023, has been thoroughly investigated.
โโ The officers involved โ DSP Peter Ejike (a lawyer in charge of Zone 7 Legal Section), Inspector Ekende Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode, all attached to the Zone 7 Headquarters โ were found culpable and sanctioned appropriately.
โThese officers, led by Inspector Esther Okafor on the instruction of DSP Peter Ejike, unlawfully arrested Andrew Ejah, an employee of FATFAD Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was conveying the cash sum of โฆ74,950,000 on behalf of clients.
โActing without authorization, they detained Mr. Ejah at the Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, and deliberately misrepresented the recovered amount as โฆ31,790,000.
“The officers further demanded a percentage of the funds to suppress the case.
โUpon being contacted by the alleged owners of the money, the officers claimed that the sum they had recovered from the arrested suspect was N31,790,000, and requested a percentage of the money to jeopardise investigation and suppress the case.
โOutraged by their actions, the money owners petitioned the Force Headquarters, Abuja, and the matter was directed to the IGP Monitoring Unit for Investigation.
โDuring the process, the cash sum of N31,790,000 was recovered from the officers, who claimed that it was the total money recovered from Andrew Ejah during his arrest.
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โAfter intense investigations and a series of trials, before duly constituted disciplinary panels, it was discovered that the officers took photographs of the suspect and the sacks of monies at the point of arrest but claimed the phone they used was damaged and subsequently lost, in an attempt to conceal their misconduct.
โHowever, forensic intelligence showed that this group of officers conspired and stole part of the money, amounting to N43,160,000, and tasked one of them to move the cash out of the FCT for hiding pending when the heat blows over.
โThey thereafter resorted to several tricks and gimmicks in order to cover their tracks. One of which is the spread of this false narrative and misinformation to several online blogs and newspaper platforms.
โThese officers have been suspended, being found culpable of serious misconduct, tampering with exhibits, abuse of office, corrupt practice, illegal duty, and acts unbecoming of a police officer.
โThe movement of such an amount of money by the alleged cargo company could have been investigated and handled professionally by the police, but the officers were carried away by greed and therefore acted criminally and unprofessionally.
โIt is pertinent to note that the circulating false narrative is a sponsored misinformation cultivated by mischief makers who seek to divert attention from the criminal acts of the police officers by attempting to join issues with the Inspector-General of Police.
โThe affected officers will be prosecuted upon conclusion of due legal and administrative procedures.
โWe urge the public and the media to refrain from spreading this false narrative aimed at tainting the reputation of the Inspector-General of Police.
โSuch misinformation undermines public trust and detracts from the ongoing efforts of the current administration to reform the Police Force by eradicating unprofessional elements.โ
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
